Post by Nakajima Kimiko on Aug 31, 2022 16:48:44 GMT -5
[ B A S I C I N F O R M A T I O N ]
[ R E A S O N S F O R A P P L I C A T I O N ]
Over the course of the last week, I gathered from the way Kimiko's progression was nearing the end of the Path to Hollowfication that a few changes would eventually have to be made to her sheet. Her original sheet has already become somewhat outdated, and so a few modifications were in order. Much of these required modifications were mainly descriptive in nature and so they did not require any particular verification from one of the members of the staff team. For reference, they can be found within this particular CIU, which will be submitted for grading once the fight between Kimiko and her Inner Hollow comes to a successful end. With that said, a few of these changes - mainly those revolving around her Zanpakuto - do require grading, and considering the nature of the aforementioned CIU, it would most likely take a considerable amount of time for them to eventually be verified and approved.
To avoid any conflicts which may potentially arise should such a thing occur, I have decided to isolate the mechanical changes regarding Kimiko's weapons so as to accelerate the grading process. As they are mechanical only, they do not include elements such as the Zanpakuto Spirits and the Inner World, which can be found in the CIU. Visual references will be provided if needed during the reviewing of their associated techniques.
[ M O D I F I C A T I O N S ]
{Zanpakuto Changes (Approved version - 08/05/2023)}
When she was first granted Shizukakane's name and gained the ability to use his powers, Kimiko never really took even the briefest of moments to ponder upon what these aforementioned powers really meant. To her, they were somewhat nonsensical, a strange ability which seemingly did not make much sense. This opinion was only compounded once she formed Taishokukane from her second Asauchi, as he had a similar ability, albeit perhaps of the darker kind. It was difficult to blame her for thinking of it all in such a way; after all, ignoring the fact that she had many other things on her mind at the time, the abilities themselves were indeed confusing. Their names were related to bells, but there was no real correlation between them and the weapons' abilities aside from the noise which came from them as they were swung. They both expelled a form of ink-like energy, but the use of this ink was unconventional and not like how a painter or an artistic sort would use it for. They were opposites in nature, with one being white and the other black, but at the time, she believed that this had no bearing at all on her abilities and was only a matter of cosmetics.
But after Shizukakane's passing and the reveal of her true Bankai, the Vizard found herself finally pondering upon this very matter. She would think about it all quite extensively as she scouted the Canvas, erased the ruins of the old Inner World, and drew the new. Once her work was completed, she gave one final thought to it all and found herself reaching a conclusion. All this time, unbeknownst to her for many decades, her blades bore a most-specific meaning. No, not just a meaning: a purpose. That purpose was to make her an icon of balance. Indeed, all along, the theme of the blades was never about "focus". Unfortunately, at this time, Shizukakane's presence prevented them from acting as they were designed, and so their forms were limited. Their previous combined form, Tsūkakane, is a testament to that. Now that the older spirit is gone, the blades can finally accomplish their intended goal unencumbered, hopefully forever more.
This understanding has allowed the woman to give a more accurate description of her blades that she believes will allow her to eventually reach even greater heights in time. Under this new description, the swords' main ability is to empower Kimiko by causing the battlefield to revolve around herself. Everything that is light and everything that is dark, no matter the shade or tone, finds itself brought towards the Vizard, and in so doing, they bring to her their innate strengths and a resolution to their weaknesses in the form of "ink". This causes her to appear as an embodiment of the taijitu, the yin and the yang personified. As a result of this empowerment, both her body and her blades begin to exhume "ink" - causing them both to appear less as physical manifestations and more so as though they were drawn in motion - and benefit from greater speed and spiritual power, as presented below within their respective descriptions.
[ N E W Z A N P A K U T O ]
When she was first granted Shizukakane's name and gained the ability to use his powers, Kimiko never really took even the briefest of moments to ponder upon what these aforementioned powers really meant. To her, they were somewhat nonsensical, a strange ability which seemingly did not make much sense. This opinion was only compounded once she formed Taishokukane from her second Asauchi, as he had a similar ability, albeit perhaps of the darker kind. It was difficult to blame her for thinking of it all in such a way; after all, ignoring the fact that she had many other things on her mind at the time, the abilities themselves were indeed confusing. Their names were related to bells, but there was no real correlation between them and the weapons' abilities aside from the noise which came from them as they were swung. They both expelled a form of ink-like energy, but the use of this ink was unconventional and not like how a painter or an artistic sort would use it for. They were opposites in nature, with one being white and the other black, but at the time, she believed that this had no bearing at all on her abilities and was only a matter of cosmetics.
But after Shizukakane's passing and the reveal of her true Bankai, the Vizard found herself finally pondering upon this very matter. She would think about it all quite extensively as she scouted the Canvas, erased the ruins of the old Inner World, and drew the new. Once her work was completed, she gave one final thought to it all and found herself reaching a conclusion. All this time, unbeknownst to her for many decades, her blades bore a most-specific meaning. No, not just a meaning: a purpose. That purpose was to make her an icon of balance. Indeed, all along, the theme of the blades was never about "focus". Unfortunately, at this time, Shizukakane's presence prevented them from acting as they were designed, and so their forms were limited. Their previous combined form, Tsūkakane, is a testament to that. Now that the older spirit is gone, the blades can finally accomplish their intended goal unencumbered, hopefully forever more.
This understanding has allowed the woman to give a more accurate description of her blades that she believes will allow her to eventually reach even greater heights in time. Under this new description, the swords' main ability is to empower Kimiko by causing the battlefield to revolve around herself. Everything that is light and everything that is dark, no matter the shade or tone, finds itself brought towards the Vizard, and in so doing, they bring to her their innate strengths and a resolution to their weaknesses in the form of "ink". This causes her to appear as an embodiment of the taijitu, the yin and the yang personified. As a result of this empowerment, both her body and her blades begin to exhume "ink" - causing them both to appear less as physical manifestations and more so as though they were drawn in motion - and benefit from greater speed and spiritual power, as presented below within their respective descriptions.
{Zanzaifude (残在筆, "Remaining Brush")}
Zanzaifude, the white sword, is the first Zanpakuto that Kimiko has gained throughout her Shinigami career. Previously home to the spirit known as Shizukakane, it was the weapon that she cherished the most between the two she owned. Nowadays, however, the blade houses the elderly one's replacement, and so Kimiko's favoritism has ended. In so doing, the blade now brandishes a new form. While sealed, it appears as a katana stripped of its guard resting in a white scabbard. This particular sheath appears to be made of aged wood unlike its predecessor, and it is marked by a single black dot reminiscent of the yang. When released, the blade takes a sharper, rougher look as it becomes a major container for the white "ink" and a minor container of the black "ink", which itself is contained not within the sword's very being, but rather in a small dot-shaped hole formed within the center of its blade. This hole is visible within the scabbard as well, as a landscape of mountains and forests drawn with black ink now surrounds its dot marking.
As a personification of the yin, the white sword is responsible for the empowerment of Kimiko through the act of bringing balance to the light contained within a certain area. This causes said light to be brought towards the Vizard, causing its pacing to become progressively slower until it eventually begins to affect its surroundings. The colors of the area lessen, edging closer towards a featureless gray, and everything that is tied to the speed of light in any capacity begins to lose its velocity. In other words, everything affected by Zanzaifude is slowed down.
To be affected by Zanzaifude's effects, the light must be selectively considered by the Vizard for balancing, and must be contained within a malleable field that is generated by the blade around her person. This field covers a maximal distance of 25 meters in diameter which can be decreased if necessary, follows Kimiko's every move, and is mainly identified by the way the world's light bends around and flows within her body as streams of white "ink". Four posts must pass in order for this balancing process to fully balance the light away from the elements chosen by Kimiko, after which the Speed of these elements is left lessened for as long as they remain in the field. After being removed from the field, the light which was removed from these elements is returned to them over the course of the next two posts, allowing them to recover 50% of their lost Speed per post.
For as long as the aforementioned balancing process is active, the light which flows within Kimiko's body grows. This growth is represented by a Light Gauge, which fills up at a pace of around 15% per post in areas that still contain unbalanced light. If both it and Manzenfude's fields are active in an area, however, this growth will instead be increased to 20% per post in an attempt to properly achieve a balance of energy. The further the light of an area is redirected towards and balanced within Kimiko, the longer the blade becomes, expanding into a bright sheen of white "ink" almost akin to a void separate from this reality. The length of the blade and the Speed lost by Kimiko's opponents during this balancing act are depicted as follows depending on how filled the Light Gauge is:
The energy contained by the Light Gauge can also be used by Kimiko to perform techniques that cannot be achieved through normal means. These techniques are meant to be more so supportive in nature, as the light - beacon of life and representative of the world's order - ultimately wishes not for the other's death.
Zanzaifude, the white sword, is the first Zanpakuto that Kimiko has gained throughout her Shinigami career. Previously home to the spirit known as Shizukakane, it was the weapon that she cherished the most between the two she owned. Nowadays, however, the blade houses the elderly one's replacement, and so Kimiko's favoritism has ended. In so doing, the blade now brandishes a new form. While sealed, it appears as a katana stripped of its guard resting in a white scabbard. This particular sheath appears to be made of aged wood unlike its predecessor, and it is marked by a single black dot reminiscent of the yang. When released, the blade takes a sharper, rougher look as it becomes a major container for the white "ink" and a minor container of the black "ink", which itself is contained not within the sword's very being, but rather in a small dot-shaped hole formed within the center of its blade. This hole is visible within the scabbard as well, as a landscape of mountains and forests drawn with black ink now surrounds its dot marking.
Shikai
"Endure, Zanzaifude!"
As a personification of the yin, the white sword is responsible for the empowerment of Kimiko through the act of bringing balance to the light contained within a certain area. This causes said light to be brought towards the Vizard, causing its pacing to become progressively slower until it eventually begins to affect its surroundings. The colors of the area lessen, edging closer towards a featureless gray, and everything that is tied to the speed of light in any capacity begins to lose its velocity. In other words, everything affected by Zanzaifude is slowed down.
To be affected by Zanzaifude's effects, the light must be selectively considered by the Vizard for balancing, and must be contained within a malleable field that is generated by the blade around her person. This field covers a maximal distance of 25 meters in diameter which can be decreased if necessary, follows Kimiko's every move, and is mainly identified by the way the world's light bends around and flows within her body as streams of white "ink". Four posts must pass in order for this balancing process to fully balance the light away from the elements chosen by Kimiko, after which the Speed of these elements is left lessened for as long as they remain in the field. After being removed from the field, the light which was removed from these elements is returned to them over the course of the next two posts, allowing them to recover 50% of their lost Speed per post.
For as long as the aforementioned balancing process is active, the light which flows within Kimiko's body grows. This growth is represented by a Light Gauge, which fills up at a pace of around 15% per post in areas that still contain unbalanced light. If both it and Manzenfude's fields are active in an area, however, this growth will instead be increased to 20% per post in an attempt to properly achieve a balance of energy. The further the light of an area is redirected towards and balanced within Kimiko, the longer the blade becomes, expanding into a bright sheen of white "ink" almost akin to a void separate from this reality. The length of the blade and the Speed lost by Kimiko's opponents during this balancing act are depicted as follows depending on how filled the Light Gauge is:
- 0-20%: 0.6m. No change in base size. 5% Speed.
- 21-40%: 1m. 10% Speed.
- 41-60%: 1.5m. 15% Speed.
- 61-80%: 2m. 20% Speed.
- 81-99%: 2.5m. 22% Speed.
- 100%: 4m. 25% Speed.
The energy contained by the Light Gauge can also be used by Kimiko to perform techniques that cannot be achieved through normal means. These techniques are meant to be more so supportive in nature, as the light - beacon of life and representative of the world's order - ultimately wishes not for the other's death.
{Manzenfude (漫然筆, "Wandering Brush")}
Manzenfude, the black sword, is the second Zanpakuto that Kimiko has gained throughout her Shinigami career. An anomaly in nature due to its conception from a second Asauchi by the same officer, it was the blade that the Vizard loathed between the two she owned as it once housed Taishokukane. With that said, now that Taishokukane has undergone his rebirth as Zanzaifude and has moved to the white sword, the blade now instead acts as the unconventional residence of her Inner Hollow. As such, much like its brighter brethren, the weapon currently also possesses a different appearance when compared to its earlier iteration. While sealed, it resembles a katana with a missing guard much like Zanzaifude, and rests within a black scabbard. Unlike Zanzaifude's sheath, however, Manzenfude's appears to be composed of wet coral and is marked with a white dot reminiscent of the yin. When released, the blade takes on a more unorthodox look with a curvier blade and a wet hilt, though essentially becomes much like its sibling: a container for the black "ink" and a minor container of the white "ink", which itself is contained within a hole that is encrusted into the center of the blade and is visible within the scabbard. Great ocean waves of white appears to surround the hole, calm yet powerful, seemingly waiting the swallow the hole whole.
As a personification of the yang, the black sword is responsible for the empowerment of Kimiko through the act of bringing balance to the dark which is contained within a certain area. This causes said dark to be brought towards the Vizard, causing its to power to be diminished into a lesser state. The darkness of the area is progressively removed, causing it to appear less as a shade of dark and more so as a patch of weak gray, and all that was connected to this darkness in any capacity begins to lose its strength. In other words, everything affected by Manzenfude is weakened.
To be affected by Manzenfude's effects, this dark must also be selectively considered by the Vizard for balancing, and it must be contained within a malleable field that is generated by the blade. It also follows Kimiko's every move, and its distance can be decreased if necessary. However, unlike Zanzaifude's field, this field covers a maximal distance of 30 meters in diameter, and is mainly identified by the way the world's darkness bends around and flows within her body as streams of black "ink". Three posts must pass in order for this balancing process to fully deplete the dark of the elements chosen by Kimiko, after which the Spiritual Pressure of these elements is left in an eroded state for as long as they remain in the field. After being removed from the field, the dark which was removed from these elements is returned to them over the course of the next two posts, allowing them to recover 50% of their lost Spiritual Pressure per post. Reiatsu that has been lost within the field due to the lessening of the Spiritual Pressure stat is also restored after leaving the field.
For as long as the aforementioned balancing process is active, the dark which flows within Kimiko's body grows. This growth is represented by another delimiter: the Dark Gauge. Unlike the Light Gauge, the Dark Gauge fills up at a quicker pace of around 20% per post in areas that still contain darkness. The further the darkness of an area is redirected towards and balanced within Kimiko, the longer the blade becomes, expanding into an abyssal bolt of black "ink" almost akin to a void separate from this reality. The length of the blade and the Spiritual Pressure lost by Kimiko's opponents during this balancing act are depicted as follows depending on how filled the Dark Gauge is:
The energy contained by the Dark Gauge can naturally also be used by Kimiko to perform techniques. These techniques, however, have a more sinister and aggressive stance behind their supportive ways, as the dark - harbinger of death and bringer of chaos - ultimately cares not for the other's life.
Manzenfude, the black sword, is the second Zanpakuto that Kimiko has gained throughout her Shinigami career. An anomaly in nature due to its conception from a second Asauchi by the same officer, it was the blade that the Vizard loathed between the two she owned as it once housed Taishokukane. With that said, now that Taishokukane has undergone his rebirth as Zanzaifude and has moved to the white sword, the blade now instead acts as the unconventional residence of her Inner Hollow. As such, much like its brighter brethren, the weapon currently also possesses a different appearance when compared to its earlier iteration. While sealed, it resembles a katana with a missing guard much like Zanzaifude, and rests within a black scabbard. Unlike Zanzaifude's sheath, however, Manzenfude's appears to be composed of wet coral and is marked with a white dot reminiscent of the yin. When released, the blade takes on a more unorthodox look with a curvier blade and a wet hilt, though essentially becomes much like its sibling: a container for the black "ink" and a minor container of the white "ink", which itself is contained within a hole that is encrusted into the center of the blade and is visible within the scabbard. Great ocean waves of white appears to surround the hole, calm yet powerful, seemingly waiting the swallow the hole whole.
Shikai
"Roam, Manzenfude!"
As a personification of the yang, the black sword is responsible for the empowerment of Kimiko through the act of bringing balance to the dark which is contained within a certain area. This causes said dark to be brought towards the Vizard, causing its to power to be diminished into a lesser state. The darkness of the area is progressively removed, causing it to appear less as a shade of dark and more so as a patch of weak gray, and all that was connected to this darkness in any capacity begins to lose its strength. In other words, everything affected by Manzenfude is weakened.
To be affected by Manzenfude's effects, this dark must also be selectively considered by the Vizard for balancing, and it must be contained within a malleable field that is generated by the blade. It also follows Kimiko's every move, and its distance can be decreased if necessary. However, unlike Zanzaifude's field, this field covers a maximal distance of 30 meters in diameter, and is mainly identified by the way the world's darkness bends around and flows within her body as streams of black "ink". Three posts must pass in order for this balancing process to fully deplete the dark of the elements chosen by Kimiko, after which the Spiritual Pressure of these elements is left in an eroded state for as long as they remain in the field. After being removed from the field, the dark which was removed from these elements is returned to them over the course of the next two posts, allowing them to recover 50% of their lost Spiritual Pressure per post. Reiatsu that has been lost within the field due to the lessening of the Spiritual Pressure stat is also restored after leaving the field.
For as long as the aforementioned balancing process is active, the dark which flows within Kimiko's body grows. This growth is represented by another delimiter: the Dark Gauge. Unlike the Light Gauge, the Dark Gauge fills up at a quicker pace of around 20% per post in areas that still contain darkness. The further the darkness of an area is redirected towards and balanced within Kimiko, the longer the blade becomes, expanding into an abyssal bolt of black "ink" almost akin to a void separate from this reality. The length of the blade and the Spiritual Pressure lost by Kimiko's opponents during this balancing act are depicted as follows depending on how filled the Dark Gauge is:
- 0-20%: 1m. No change in base size. 5% Spiritual Pressure.
- 21-40%: 1.5m. 10% Spiritual Pressure.
- 41-60%: 2m. 15% Spiritual Pressure.
- 61-80%: 2.5m. 20% Spiritual Pressure.
- 81-99%: 3m. 22% Spiritual Pressure.
- 100%: 5m. 25% Spiritual Pressure.
The energy contained by the Dark Gauge can naturally also be used by Kimiko to perform techniques. These techniques, however, have a more sinister and aggressive stance behind their supportive ways, as the dark - harbinger of death and bringer of chaos - ultimately cares not for the other's life.
{Saibankan no Fude: Yamanote (裁判官 の 筆 : やまの手, "Judge's Brush: Hand of Yama")}
The matter of Kimiko's Bankai has always been quite a touchy subject for the officer. There were many reasons behind why she preferred to avoid speaking of it during most conversations, but the greatest of them all was that she simply hated it. She hated its strength, its power, and what it was meant to be, and for all intents and purposes, she would have preferred to never have learned how to use it. In other words, she believed it to be a total failure, and she wished that she would never dared set her eyes upon it. However, shortly after Yume's defeat, she learned that it was not so much something that designed to be a failure, but rather because it was a fusion between a fabricated light and an uncooperative dark. For as long as Shizukakane remained, she was to forever be stuck with Tsūkakane, for you cannot combine an anomaly with a spirit. Now that the anomaly that was Shizukakane has been removed, the white sword and the black sword can now act in proper unison. They are truly life and death, order and chaos, peace and destruction.
Considering this, what happens now when these two fundamentals are combined? One may assume that it would simply create another Tsūkakane, nothing more than a second abomination. But now, as the blades reach ultimate balance, they can properly achieve what could not be done before. No more would they act selfishly, no more would they behave in spite of Kimiko's existence. From this moment onward, they shall act in service to Kimiko proper, and make her the true avatar of balance that she was always meant to be. In so doing, when the two blades are combined, they no longer attempt to destroy everything in their path as an ultimate error. Instead, the world begins to expel white and black "ink" all around the Vizard, and sends it towards her, causing her to be engulfed by the energy. As she becomes the epicenter of the yin and yang, the surge of "ink" eventually ceases to be, and by then, all that remains is a being carrying the duties of the celestial judge: the Hand of Yama.
Saibankan no Fude: Yamanote is what the Vizard's Bankai should have been all along. It is the ultimate combination of the white sword and the black sword, the true union of a being of light (yang) and a creature of dark (yin), and the power that is generated from their merging is all bestowed to Kimiko in a flow of immense spiritual energy. As a result of this, the woman's appearance changes to better suit her duty as an avatar of equilibrium. Her hair grows longer, enough so that it begins reaching the back of her knees, and their color takes on a predominantly white tone with black highlights on the underside. Meanwhile, her clothes change to take on a look reminiscent of the warring ages of Japan, with a mixture of both armor and cloth designed for unrivaled offense against all odds. The only things that are seemingly devoid of modification are her eyes which retain their original red, though given the tinctures of her new form... perhaps they did not require any changes at all.
For as long as she remains in this form, the Hand of Yama carries the blade of balance. At a glance, it appears as an indistinct streak of black and white "ink" in the vague shape of a sword. It remains steady as a perfect flow of controlled spiritual energy, undisturbed by even the greatest violence. Somehow, despite it being made of what could only be assumed to be non-corporeal material, Kimiko is able to hold it with ease and even return it to a sheath that she can manifest within her hand at any given time, thus allowing her to still use Iaijutsu despite having no physical scabbard. However, the weapon is otherwise unable to be held by even those who are most endowed with spiritual power for more than a few seconds, for their fingers will then find themselves simply passing through it. This renders it only connected to the Vizard proper, which is made apparent from the fact that she can regenerate the sword at any time within the palm of her hand whenever it is somehow lost.
Much like Zanzaifude and Manzenfude on their own, Saibankan no Fude generates a malleable field around Kimiko that follows her every move. This field can cover a maximal distance of 50m of diameter, and it is made noticeable to others by the way the world appears to bend around her as an "inky" version of itself until the paths of all that composes it - its form, shape, color, noise, etc - are fully redirected within Kimiko, leaving nothing behind but an empty washi beige. This process is accomplished over the course of two posts to specific entities that the Vizard selects, though what they are is not entirely absorbed by Kimiko or Saibankan no Fude unless she specifically chooses to have it do so. No more shall a weapon of hers consume indiscriminately. She is not a Hollow, and in so doing, she shall not allow something as personal as a Zanpakuto to represent her as such. Instead, it shall only consume selectively and passionately, as any weapon of balance should.
While active, Saibankan no Fude possesses its own gauge referred to as the Harmony Gauge. This gauge grows quicker than the Light Gauge and the Dark Gauge at a pace of 35% per post, and represents how much of the world surrounding Kimiko has begun to balance itself around her. It also delimits how longer Saibankan no Fude can become, as can be observed with the numbers below:
Much like these other gauges, percentages of the Harmony Gauge can be exchanged for greater power, though the main way this power is acquired could be considered as being quite unorthodox. At any given moment, for a cost of 250 Reiatsu and 50% of the Harmony Gauge, the Hand of Yama may unshackle herself from perfect equilibrium to instead completely dedicate her being to either the light or the dark. This process is referred to by Kimiko as Nagare (流れ, "Flow"), which mainly revolves around either the complete purification of the black and white "ink" surrounding her being until all that remains is a white sheen, or its complete corruption until what is left is only but a dark abyss. Though the way this process is described may make it appear as a painful procedure that will only do more harm than good, the Hand of Yama nevertheless remains in control throughout it, which allows her to manifest herself and her powers through two different shapes. These shapes are respectively the Sun and the Moon.
As the Sun, Kimiko appears as a devil of white. Her hair becomes a long mane of bright "ink" that appears to be drawn on the spot by an invisible painter, causing it to leave trails behind its wake that eventually dissipates into nothingness. The cloth that she adorned has been replaced by more armor, causing her to appear as a warrior of times further forgotten by the people of Japan, and with this new abundance of spiritual steel is also formed horns at the top of her forehead, the both of which are tall and formed from the "ink". The horns may physically only be for show, seeing as they are not at all corporeal and therefore could not harm even the weakest of flies. However, in Kimiko's eyes, they are symbolic to her wish to become the devil at the service of the Soul Society, its ultimate weapon that shall survive every attack in order to return it all to the sender with the greatest might. As such, she is thankful that her Bankai showcases them to the world, even if they are only delimited to this particular form.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, as the Moon, she instead appears as what could be considered as a more modern devil of darkness. Her head is suddenly covered by the hat of a military officer as her hair becomes a sprawl of black "ink" which floats aimlessly around her being, as though it itself is submerged in deep waters. Her armor is completely stripped away from her person, leaving behind only but the cloth of what appears to be an exaggerated rendition of an outfit that would typically be worn by a long-standing admiral of the Japanese's Imperial Navy during the likes of World War II and slightly onward. This, at first, appears to be a rather unfitting pick, and even Kimiko believed it to be a rather strange appearance for her to take once she first manifested herself as such. However, she eventually began to express it as a personification of her wish to eliminate all who stands against the Soul Society as powerfully and as mercilessly as possible, even if it may one day lead her to her demise.
For as long as Kimiko remains as the Sun or the Moon, she limits herself to the use of either Zanzaifude or Manzenfude respectively. This effectively prevents her from using the regenerative benefits she gains as the Hand of Yama. However, this limitation allows the Vizard to use a more powerful version of either of the blades that possesses more potent techniques in exchange for percentages of the Discord Gauge, a substitute for the Light Gauge or the Dark Gauge. This replacement grows at a pace of 25% per post, can receive parts of the Harmony Gauge during Nagare, and achieves its main function by boosting the effectiveness of the other gauges' main source of energy. More explicitly, for example, a heightened Zanzaifude redirects light within Kimiko to such a degree that it would leave behind only darkness in the area that it has affected in the matter of 4 posts, while a heightened Manzenfude instead leaves only light in the area after the same period of time has passed.
Any stat changes applied to Kimiko's opponents during such processes are doubled, causing them to either be much slower or much weaker. Should her opponents escape the field generated by the empowered Zanpakuto, their recovery time will also be lessened from 50% per post to 25% per post.
Considering this, what happens now when these two fundamentals are combined? One may assume that it would simply create another Tsūkakane, nothing more than a second abomination. But now, as the blades reach ultimate balance, they can properly achieve what could not be done before. No more would they act selfishly, no more would they behave in spite of Kimiko's existence. From this moment onward, they shall act in service to Kimiko proper, and make her the true avatar of balance that she was always meant to be. In so doing, when the two blades are combined, they no longer attempt to destroy everything in their path as an ultimate error. Instead, the world begins to expel white and black "ink" all around the Vizard, and sends it towards her, causing her to be engulfed by the energy. As she becomes the epicenter of the yin and yang, the surge of "ink" eventually ceases to be, and by then, all that remains is a being carrying the duties of the celestial judge: the Hand of Yama.
Saibankan no Fude: Yamanote is what the Vizard's Bankai should have been all along. It is the ultimate combination of the white sword and the black sword, the true union of a being of light (yang) and a creature of dark (yin), and the power that is generated from their merging is all bestowed to Kimiko in a flow of immense spiritual energy. As a result of this, the woman's appearance changes to better suit her duty as an avatar of equilibrium. Her hair grows longer, enough so that it begins reaching the back of her knees, and their color takes on a predominantly white tone with black highlights on the underside. Meanwhile, her clothes change to take on a look reminiscent of the warring ages of Japan, with a mixture of both armor and cloth designed for unrivaled offense against all odds. The only things that are seemingly devoid of modification are her eyes which retain their original red, though given the tinctures of her new form... perhaps they did not require any changes at all.
For as long as she remains in this form, the Hand of Yama carries the blade of balance. At a glance, it appears as an indistinct streak of black and white "ink" in the vague shape of a sword. It remains steady as a perfect flow of controlled spiritual energy, undisturbed by even the greatest violence. Somehow, despite it being made of what could only be assumed to be non-corporeal material, Kimiko is able to hold it with ease and even return it to a sheath that she can manifest within her hand at any given time, thus allowing her to still use Iaijutsu despite having no physical scabbard. However, the weapon is otherwise unable to be held by even those who are most endowed with spiritual power for more than a few seconds, for their fingers will then find themselves simply passing through it. This renders it only connected to the Vizard proper, which is made apparent from the fact that she can regenerate the sword at any time within the palm of her hand whenever it is somehow lost.
Much like Zanzaifude and Manzenfude on their own, Saibankan no Fude generates a malleable field around Kimiko that follows her every move. This field can cover a maximal distance of 50m of diameter, and it is made noticeable to others by the way the world appears to bend around her as an "inky" version of itself until the paths of all that composes it - its form, shape, color, noise, etc - are fully redirected within Kimiko, leaving nothing behind but an empty washi beige. This process is accomplished over the course of two posts to specific entities that the Vizard selects, though what they are is not entirely absorbed by Kimiko or Saibankan no Fude unless she specifically chooses to have it do so. No more shall a weapon of hers consume indiscriminately. She is not a Hollow, and in so doing, she shall not allow something as personal as a Zanpakuto to represent her as such. Instead, it shall only consume selectively and passionately, as any weapon of balance should.
While active, Saibankan no Fude possesses its own gauge referred to as the Harmony Gauge. This gauge grows quicker than the Light Gauge and the Dark Gauge at a pace of 35% per post, and represents how much of the world surrounding Kimiko has begun to balance itself around her. It also delimits how longer Saibankan no Fude can become, as can be observed with the numbers below:
- 0-20%: 2m. No change in base size. Grants 5% of Kimiko's total reiatsu pool per post.
- 21-40%: 3m. Grants 10% of Kimiko's total reiatsu pool per post.
- 41-60%: 4m. Grants 20% of Kimiko's total reiatsu pool per post.
- 61-80%: 5m. Grants 25% of Kimiko's total reiatsu pool per post.
- 81-99%: 6m. Grants 30% of Kimiko's total reiatsu pool per post.
- 100%: 8m. Grants 35% of Kimiko's total reiatsu pool per post.
Much like these other gauges, percentages of the Harmony Gauge can be exchanged for greater power, though the main way this power is acquired could be considered as being quite unorthodox. At any given moment, for a cost of 250 Reiatsu and 50% of the Harmony Gauge, the Hand of Yama may unshackle herself from perfect equilibrium to instead completely dedicate her being to either the light or the dark. This process is referred to by Kimiko as Nagare (流れ, "Flow"), which mainly revolves around either the complete purification of the black and white "ink" surrounding her being until all that remains is a white sheen, or its complete corruption until what is left is only but a dark abyss. Though the way this process is described may make it appear as a painful procedure that will only do more harm than good, the Hand of Yama nevertheless remains in control throughout it, which allows her to manifest herself and her powers through two different shapes. These shapes are respectively the Sun and the Moon.
As the Sun, Kimiko appears as a devil of white. Her hair becomes a long mane of bright "ink" that appears to be drawn on the spot by an invisible painter, causing it to leave trails behind its wake that eventually dissipates into nothingness. The cloth that she adorned has been replaced by more armor, causing her to appear as a warrior of times further forgotten by the people of Japan, and with this new abundance of spiritual steel is also formed horns at the top of her forehead, the both of which are tall and formed from the "ink". The horns may physically only be for show, seeing as they are not at all corporeal and therefore could not harm even the weakest of flies. However, in Kimiko's eyes, they are symbolic to her wish to become the devil at the service of the Soul Society, its ultimate weapon that shall survive every attack in order to return it all to the sender with the greatest might. As such, she is thankful that her Bankai showcases them to the world, even if they are only delimited to this particular form.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, as the Moon, she instead appears as what could be considered as a more modern devil of darkness. Her head is suddenly covered by the hat of a military officer as her hair becomes a sprawl of black "ink" which floats aimlessly around her being, as though it itself is submerged in deep waters. Her armor is completely stripped away from her person, leaving behind only but the cloth of what appears to be an exaggerated rendition of an outfit that would typically be worn by a long-standing admiral of the Japanese's Imperial Navy during the likes of World War II and slightly onward. This, at first, appears to be a rather unfitting pick, and even Kimiko believed it to be a rather strange appearance for her to take once she first manifested herself as such. However, she eventually began to express it as a personification of her wish to eliminate all who stands against the Soul Society as powerfully and as mercilessly as possible, even if it may one day lead her to her demise.
For as long as Kimiko remains as the Sun or the Moon, she limits herself to the use of either Zanzaifude or Manzenfude respectively. This effectively prevents her from using the regenerative benefits she gains as the Hand of Yama. However, this limitation allows the Vizard to use a more powerful version of either of the blades that possesses more potent techniques in exchange for percentages of the Discord Gauge, a substitute for the Light Gauge or the Dark Gauge. This replacement grows at a pace of 25% per post, can receive parts of the Harmony Gauge during Nagare, and achieves its main function by boosting the effectiveness of the other gauges' main source of energy. More explicitly, for example, a heightened Zanzaifude redirects light within Kimiko to such a degree that it would leave behind only darkness in the area that it has affected in the matter of 4 posts, while a heightened Manzenfude instead leaves only light in the area after the same period of time has passed.
Any stat changes applied to Kimiko's opponents during such processes are doubled, causing them to either be much slower or much weaker. Should her opponents escape the field generated by the empowered Zanpakuto, their recovery time will also be lessened from 50% per post to 25% per post.
[ R E W O R K E D T E C H N I Q U E S ]
{Zanpakuto}
{Zanzaifude, the One Who Prevails}
{Hikaru Shinki (光る振起, "Luminous Stimulation")}
Technique Name: Hikaru Shinki (光る振起, "Luminous Stimulation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Stat Buff
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
A boost of Speed which can be exchanged for 10-50% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her left forearm before sliding the flat side of her blade against it, causing the white "ink" covering it to be absorbed by her body. This causes trails of the strange supernatural substance to appear on her akin to drawn mist emanating from her being. In response to this absorption, the swordswoman's physical being gains a drastic boost of Speed, allowing her to dodge her adversaries more efficiently. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, the boost will provide Kimiko with an effect of variable power and time that does not cause her physical exhaustion:
Technique Name: Hikaru Shinki (光る振起, "Luminous Stimulation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Stat Buff
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
A boost of Speed which can be exchanged for 10-50% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her left forearm before sliding the flat side of her blade against it, causing the white "ink" covering it to be absorbed by her body. This causes trails of the strange supernatural substance to appear on her akin to drawn mist emanating from her being. In response to this absorption, the swordswoman's physical being gains a drastic boost of Speed, allowing her to dodge her adversaries more efficiently. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, the boost will provide Kimiko with an effect of variable power and time that does not cause her physical exhaustion:
- 50%: 50% Speed increase for 2 posts
- 40%: 40% Speed increase for 3 posts
- 30%: 30% Speed increase for 4 posts
- 20%: 20% Speed increase for 5 posts
- 10%: 10% Speed increase for 6 posts
In exchange for additional percentages of the Light Gauge, Kimiko can reuse this technique to raise the boost of energy she has gained up to a maximum of 50% and, consequently, reset its effect's timer. However, doing so will reduce the timer in question depending on the increment of ten that has been reached. For example, if the aforementioned boost is at 10%, it can be raised to 50% at any time to set its timer back to 0, but its new timer will last for 2 posts instead of 6 posts. Any further use of this technique beyond 50% will only reset the maxed effect's timer.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Sun, the white "ink" absorbed within Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the boost of Speed tied to this absorption to be doubled and for it to last two more posts. The trails become more akin to drawn clouds of bright white, and at a glance, it almost seems as though her form is becoming a source of condensation. If it were not for their transparency, these trails would be almost akin to fog.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its nature as a new source of energy dedicated to increasing one's velocity, this buff's effects are to be considered not as a multiplicative source, but rather as an additive one. For example, should Kimiko decide to wear the Vizard Mask and therefore double the effectiveness of the Speed she can reach on the field, the execution of Hikaru Shinki will only be capable of adding the result of the buff's effects on her base Speed to the Speed increased by the Mask.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Sun, the white "ink" absorbed within Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the boost of Speed tied to this absorption to be doubled and for it to last two more posts. The trails become more akin to drawn clouds of bright white, and at a glance, it almost seems as though her form is becoming a source of condensation. If it were not for their transparency, these trails would be almost akin to fog.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its nature as a new source of energy dedicated to increasing one's velocity, this buff's effects are to be considered not as a multiplicative source, but rather as an additive one. For example, should Kimiko decide to wear the Vizard Mask and therefore double the effectiveness of the Speed she can reach on the field, the execution of Hikaru Shinki will only be capable of adding the result of the buff's effects on her base Speed to the Speed increased by the Mask.
{Hikaru Yōsai (光る加速, "Luminous Fortification")}
Technique Name: Hikaru Yōsai (光る加速, "Luminous Fortification")
Technique Type: Shikai | Armor Creation
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 250, 500 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
The formation of armor around parts of the body which can be exchanged for 30-50% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko balls her hands into fists before slamming her feet down onto the ground (or air) below and letting out a loud cry, causing the white "ink" surrounding her blade to immediately attempt to cover her body as a response. Once done, the substance then hardens into a fabric as hard as steel, drastically raising the swordswoman's defenses. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, the fabric will cover a variable amount of Kimiko's body starting with her right arm:
Technique Name: Hikaru Yōsai (光る加速, "Luminous Fortification")
Technique Type: Shikai | Armor Creation
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 250, 500 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
The formation of armor around parts of the body which can be exchanged for 30-50% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko balls her hands into fists before slamming her feet down onto the ground (or air) below and letting out a loud cry, causing the white "ink" surrounding her blade to immediately attempt to cover her body as a response. Once done, the substance then hardens into a fabric as hard as steel, drastically raising the swordswoman's defenses. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, the fabric will cover a variable amount of Kimiko's body starting with her right arm:
- 50%: Full Body
- 40%: Upper Body + Helmet
- 30%: Right Arm
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Sun, the white "ink" surrounding Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the armor it produces to completely ignore the knockback effect of every attack which hits it. Due to its sheer potency, the hardened "ink" appears to almost shine brightly as it surrounds the Vizard, with it even appearing misty as though it is composed of a higher material beyond the realm of even spiritual chemistry. A fitting suit of armor for an avatar of the distant star.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
The armor's durability is dependent of Kimiko's Offensive Stat - meaning her Spiritual Pressure - upon its creation. For as long as it remains active, it cannot be strengthened by a technique which grants additional Spiritual Pressure to her, and it cannot be stacked on top of itself by an additional execution of the technique. Moreover, in the case that it finds itself damaged or broken by an opponent who possesses a higher Offensive Stat, it cannot be repaired by conventional means, as it instead requires Kimiko to use the technique again in order to do so.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
The armor's durability is dependent of Kimiko's Offensive Stat - meaning her Spiritual Pressure - upon its creation. For as long as it remains active, it cannot be strengthened by a technique which grants additional Spiritual Pressure to her, and it cannot be stacked on top of itself by an additional execution of the technique. Moreover, in the case that it finds itself damaged or broken by an opponent who possesses a higher Offensive Stat, it cannot be repaired by conventional means, as it instead requires Kimiko to use the technique again in order to do so.
{Hikaru Keigen (光る軽減, "Luminous Alleviation")}
Technique Name: Hikaru Keigen (光る軽減, "Luminous Alleviation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Self-Heal
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
A technique which cleanses the body of harm for 50-100% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko stand still for a brief moment of time before taking a deep breath, absorbing the white "ink" of her blade in the process to ease her pain. As this process is completed, the substance enters her body to cleanse the mind and soul, ridding the swordswoman of wounds, poisons and diseases. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, Kimiko will be healed up to a certain extent, cleansing the following:
Technique Name: Hikaru Keigen (光る軽減, "Luminous Alleviation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Self-Heal
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
A technique which cleanses the body of harm for 50-100% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko stand still for a brief moment of time before taking a deep breath, absorbing the white "ink" of her blade in the process to ease her pain. As this process is completed, the substance enters her body to cleanse the mind and soul, ridding the swordswoman of wounds, poisons and diseases. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, Kimiko will be healed up to a certain extent, cleansing the following:
- 100%: Major injuries and debuffs. Ex: Heavy sword wounds, shattered bones, destroyed muscle tissue and organs, third and fourth degree burns, fatal poisons and diseases, etc.
- 75%: Average injuries and debuffs. Ex: sword wounds, broken bones, damaged muscle tissue, second-degree burns, common poisons and rarer diseases, etc.
- 50%: Minor injuries and debuffs. Ex: scratches, scars, light bite marks, effects of weak tranquilizers and common diseases, etc.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Sun, the white "ink" absorbed by Kimiko becomes much more potent, causing the absorption process itself to require half as much "ink" as usual and for a new path to be opened to the Vizard. This new path takes the form of a more gradual process which slowly restores Kimiko to health, cleansing her of one wound per post for 10% of the Discord Gauge. Should this path be followed, Kimiko can eventually begin to regrow lost limbs and a damaged heart.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Despite its effectiveness, there is only so much pain and suffering that can be cleansed by Hikaru Keigen. After all, its purpose is not necessarily to heal, but rather to alleviate. Outside of the gradual process, extreme wounds such as the loss of limbs, the destruction of the heart, and the obliteration of the Saketsu and Hakusui are all beyond this technique's ability to take care of, especially in the obvious case of the latter, and so must be treated by a specialized medical expert or scientist. Even if the healing process is gradual, only wounds that have been received prior to its activation can be healed, and not new ones. Nevertheless, the technique can be used as a means to cut off both pain and blood loss provided by the first two of these specific wounds, allowing Kimiko to fight just a little bit longer before collapsing.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Despite its effectiveness, there is only so much pain and suffering that can be cleansed by Hikaru Keigen. After all, its purpose is not necessarily to heal, but rather to alleviate. Outside of the gradual process, extreme wounds such as the loss of limbs, the destruction of the heart, and the obliteration of the Saketsu and Hakusui are all beyond this technique's ability to take care of, especially in the obvious case of the latter, and so must be treated by a specialized medical expert or scientist. Even if the healing process is gradual, only wounds that have been received prior to its activation can be healed, and not new ones. Nevertheless, the technique can be used as a means to cut off both pain and blood loss provided by the first two of these specific wounds, allowing Kimiko to fight just a little bit longer before collapsing.
{Manzenfude, Wayfarer of the Great Beyond}
{Bakuzen Bairitsu (漠然倍率, "Obscure Magnification")}
Technique Name: Bakuzen Bairitsu (漠然倍率, "Obscure Magnification")
Technique Type: Shikai | Stat Buff
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
A boost of Spiritual Pressure which can be exchanged for 10-50% of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her right forearm before sliding the flat side of her blade against it, causing the black "ink" covering it to be absorbed by her body. This causes trails of the strange supernatural substance to appear on her akin to drawn smoke emanating from her being. In response to this absorption, the swordswoman's physical being gains a drastic boost of Spiritual Pressure, allowing her to strike her adversaries with greater power. Depending on how much of the Dark Gauge is used during this process, the boost will provide Kimiko with an effect of variable power and time:
In exchange for additional percentages of the Dark Gauge, Kimiko can reuse this technique to raise the boost of speed she has gained up to a maximum of 50% and, consequently, reset its effect's timer. However, doing so will reduce the timer in question depending on the increment of ten that has been reached. For example, if the aforementioned boost is at 10%, it can be raised to 50% at any time to set its timer back to 0, but its new timer will last for 2 posts instead of 6 posts. Any further use beyond 50% will only reset the maxed effect's timer.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the black "ink" absorbed within Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the boost of Spiritual Energy tied to this absorption to be doubled and for it to last two more posts. The trails become more akin to drawn clouds of darkness, and at a glance, it almost seems as though her form is becoming a source of incineration. Compared to Zanzaifude's drawn clouds, those related by Manzenfude tend to be more opaque, causing Kimiko to be slightly harder to see while she is surrounded by them.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its nature as a new source of energy dedicated to increasing one's velocity, this buff's effects are to be considered not as a multiplicative source, but rather as an additive one. For example, should Kimiko decide to wear the Vizard Mask and therefore double the effectiveness of the Spiritual Energy she can reach on the field, the execution of Bakuzen Bairitsu will only be capable of adding the result of the buff's effects on her base Spiritual Energy to the Spiritual Energy increased by the Mask.
Technique Name: Bakuzen Bairitsu (漠然倍率, "Obscure Magnification")
Technique Type: Shikai | Stat Buff
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
A boost of Spiritual Pressure which can be exchanged for 10-50% of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her right forearm before sliding the flat side of her blade against it, causing the black "ink" covering it to be absorbed by her body. This causes trails of the strange supernatural substance to appear on her akin to drawn smoke emanating from her being. In response to this absorption, the swordswoman's physical being gains a drastic boost of Spiritual Pressure, allowing her to strike her adversaries with greater power. Depending on how much of the Dark Gauge is used during this process, the boost will provide Kimiko with an effect of variable power and time:
- 50%: 50% Spiritual Pressure increase for 2 posts
- 40%: 40% Spiritual Pressure increase for 3 posts
- 30%: 30% Spiritual Pressure increase for 4 posts
- 20%: 20% Spiritual Pressure increase for 5 posts
- 10%: 10% Spiritual Pressure increase for 6 posts
In exchange for additional percentages of the Dark Gauge, Kimiko can reuse this technique to raise the boost of speed she has gained up to a maximum of 50% and, consequently, reset its effect's timer. However, doing so will reduce the timer in question depending on the increment of ten that has been reached. For example, if the aforementioned boost is at 10%, it can be raised to 50% at any time to set its timer back to 0, but its new timer will last for 2 posts instead of 6 posts. Any further use beyond 50% will only reset the maxed effect's timer.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the black "ink" absorbed within Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the boost of Spiritual Energy tied to this absorption to be doubled and for it to last two more posts. The trails become more akin to drawn clouds of darkness, and at a glance, it almost seems as though her form is becoming a source of incineration. Compared to Zanzaifude's drawn clouds, those related by Manzenfude tend to be more opaque, causing Kimiko to be slightly harder to see while she is surrounded by them.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its nature as a new source of energy dedicated to increasing one's velocity, this buff's effects are to be considered not as a multiplicative source, but rather as an additive one. For example, should Kimiko decide to wear the Vizard Mask and therefore double the effectiveness of the Spiritual Energy she can reach on the field, the execution of Bakuzen Bairitsu will only be capable of adding the result of the buff's effects on her base Spiritual Energy to the Spiritual Energy increased by the Mask.
{Bakuzen Keizoku (漠然継続, "Obscure Continuation")}
Technique Name: Bakuzen Kurikaeshi (漠然継続, "Obscure Continuation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Cancel
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 150, 300 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
The creation of an endless assault which can be exchanged for 15% per post of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko's raises her blade above herself, causing it to reduce itself in length, before pointing its tip towards her stomach. Once done, she then plunges the tip within it. Due to her primordial duty as the Hand of Yama, this causes the "ink" composing the blade to pass through her being and be forcefully rebalanced as small traces floating around the Vizard until it is removed from her stomach. At that point, the traces suddenly take a darkened form of herself for all to see until they separate once again.
After these traces have been generated, Kimiko can use them as a means to overwhelm the enemy by having them adopt their form in combat while she is attacking, thus allowing her to cancel the momentum of an attack she has executed. For example, when she is about to swing her sword towards an enemy, the traces of "ink" will suddenly take her form before finishing the sword swing and vanishing, thus allowing Kimiko to follow the process with a completely different attack much more quickly than if she would have executed the process without any spiritual intervention.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the traces of black "ink" that take her form during her attack leaves an imprint upon the direction of where they've struck, causing a small ball of "ink" to appear. This ball grows larger and larger alongside the Discord Gauge. After 45% of this gauge has been filled, the ball bursts, causing a release of air to occur. While it is not damaging enough to actually cause pain, the aforementioned release contains enough power to instantly break one's guard and cause those who are more slippery to find themselves tripping accidentally, leaving them wide open to Kimiko.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
A major amount of "ink" must be continuously supplied to the traces left by the rebalancing of the sword's power. If this supply is stopped, the traces will disappear, taking away with them the "ink" that they have consumed. Moreover, due to the fact that much of the technique's nature revolves primarily around the creation of a pseudo-doppelganger, it is impossible for Kimiko to use offensive techniques for as long as Bakuzen Kurikaeshi as active, for the traces of "ink" do not contain spiritual energy themselves. As such, only free form attacks can be used, thus forcing the Vizard to entirely depend on her physical capabilities in the meantime.
Technique Name: Bakuzen Kurikaeshi (漠然継続, "Obscure Continuation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Cancel
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 150, 300 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
The creation of an endless assault which can be exchanged for 15% per post of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko's raises her blade above herself, causing it to reduce itself in length, before pointing its tip towards her stomach. Once done, she then plunges the tip within it. Due to her primordial duty as the Hand of Yama, this causes the "ink" composing the blade to pass through her being and be forcefully rebalanced as small traces floating around the Vizard until it is removed from her stomach. At that point, the traces suddenly take a darkened form of herself for all to see until they separate once again.
After these traces have been generated, Kimiko can use them as a means to overwhelm the enemy by having them adopt their form in combat while she is attacking, thus allowing her to cancel the momentum of an attack she has executed. For example, when she is about to swing her sword towards an enemy, the traces of "ink" will suddenly take her form before finishing the sword swing and vanishing, thus allowing Kimiko to follow the process with a completely different attack much more quickly than if she would have executed the process without any spiritual intervention.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the traces of black "ink" that take her form during her attack leaves an imprint upon the direction of where they've struck, causing a small ball of "ink" to appear. This ball grows larger and larger alongside the Discord Gauge. After 45% of this gauge has been filled, the ball bursts, causing a release of air to occur. While it is not damaging enough to actually cause pain, the aforementioned release contains enough power to instantly break one's guard and cause those who are more slippery to find themselves tripping accidentally, leaving them wide open to Kimiko.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
A major amount of "ink" must be continuously supplied to the traces left by the rebalancing of the sword's power. If this supply is stopped, the traces will disappear, taking away with them the "ink" that they have consumed. Moreover, due to the fact that much of the technique's nature revolves primarily around the creation of a pseudo-doppelganger, it is impossible for Kimiko to use offensive techniques for as long as Bakuzen Kurikaeshi as active, for the traces of "ink" do not contain spiritual energy themselves. As such, only free form attacks can be used, thus forcing the Vizard to entirely depend on her physical capabilities in the meantime.
{Bakuzen Funka (漠然噴火, "Obscure Eruption")}
Technique Name: Bakuzen Funka (漠然噴火, "Obscure Eruption")
Technique Type: Shikai | Burst
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 500, 1000 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
An abrupt liberation in the form of a violent detonation which can be exchanged for 50% of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko takes a deep breath as she collects the spiritual energy contained within her body, letting it build up within her soul at a rapid pace. Once she believes the amount collected to be sufficient, she then begins to mix it with the black "ink" collected by Manzenfude. As the both of them combine, they eventually begin to push against one another, and at the end of their ultimate conflict, they eventually liberate themselves from Kimiko. The release of these energies is so powerful that it is not gradual, but rather instantaneous, which causes it to appear as a literal explosion of dark. This explosion's power is based on Kimiko's Spiritual Offensive Stat, spans the size of the field generated by the weapon she is currently holding, and reaches this span at a speed of 800.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the potency of the black "ink" collected within her soul is such that she can choose to have it immediately surround the spiritual energy contained within her during the mixing process. This causes it not to simply mix with the energy, but downright feed upon it. As it feeds itself, the amount of "ink" multiplies itself, growing substantially to such a degree that it begins to surround Kimiko's being as a cloak of absolute darkness. Eventually, the "ink" contained is so powerful that it requires liberation, and so it is released from the Vizard's body much like before. However, not all of it is liberated from her, for the amount was so great that much of the energy remained within her soul. This, in turn, forces Saibankan no Fude to balance the energy within around Kimiko, and thus causes the Discord Gauge to immediately be filled to its absolute limit.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its function as a sudden burst of energy, Bakuzen Funka requires quite an amount of spiritual energy from Kimiko's reserves in order to be executed properly. This is accentuated when its secondary function is used while she is acting as the Moon. Additionally, the liberation of energy is so powerful that, in some cases, using it against certain opponents may prove to be downright disadvantageous, seeing as it will push them away from Manzenfude's field and, therefore, Kimiko's reach. Allies can also be harmed by this technique. In so doing, no matter how powerful this technique may be, it remains as a very situational maneuver that is generally preferable to only be used in times of need, such as when faced against a great number of opponents or when the Discord Gauge needs to be filled immediately for further use.
Technique Name: Bakuzen Funka (漠然噴火, "Obscure Eruption")
Technique Type: Shikai | Burst
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 500, 1000 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
An abrupt liberation in the form of a violent detonation which can be exchanged for 50% of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko takes a deep breath as she collects the spiritual energy contained within her body, letting it build up within her soul at a rapid pace. Once she believes the amount collected to be sufficient, she then begins to mix it with the black "ink" collected by Manzenfude. As the both of them combine, they eventually begin to push against one another, and at the end of their ultimate conflict, they eventually liberate themselves from Kimiko. The release of these energies is so powerful that it is not gradual, but rather instantaneous, which causes it to appear as a literal explosion of dark. This explosion's power is based on Kimiko's Spiritual Offensive Stat, spans the size of the field generated by the weapon she is currently holding, and reaches this span at a speed of 800.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the potency of the black "ink" collected within her soul is such that she can choose to have it immediately surround the spiritual energy contained within her during the mixing process. This causes it not to simply mix with the energy, but downright feed upon it. As it feeds itself, the amount of "ink" multiplies itself, growing substantially to such a degree that it begins to surround Kimiko's being as a cloak of absolute darkness. Eventually, the "ink" contained is so powerful that it requires liberation, and so it is released from the Vizard's body much like before. However, not all of it is liberated from her, for the amount was so great that much of the energy remained within her soul. This, in turn, forces Saibankan no Fude to balance the energy within around Kimiko, and thus causes the Discord Gauge to immediately be filled to its absolute limit.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its function as a sudden burst of energy, Bakuzen Funka requires quite an amount of spiritual energy from Kimiko's reserves in order to be executed properly. This is accentuated when its secondary function is used while she is acting as the Moon. Additionally, the liberation of energy is so powerful that, in some cases, using it against certain opponents may prove to be downright disadvantageous, seeing as it will push them away from Manzenfude's field and, therefore, Kimiko's reach. Allies can also be harmed by this technique. In so doing, no matter how powerful this technique may be, it remains as a very situational maneuver that is generally preferable to only be used in times of need, such as when faced against a great number of opponents or when the Discord Gauge needs to be filled immediately for further use.
{Saibankan no Fude: Yamanote, Judge of All That is Light and Dark}
{Saiban (裁判, "Trial")}
Technique Name: Saiban (裁判, "Trial")
Technique Type: Bankai | Reiatsu Drain
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 800, 1000 (No Gap)
Technique Description and Effects
Technique Name: Saiban (裁判, "Trial")
Technique Type: Bankai | Reiatsu Drain
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 800, 1000 (No Gap)
Technique Description and Effects
The bolstering of spiritual energy reserves through the forceful balancing of hostile vitality around one's self in exchange for 100% of Saibankan no Fude's Harmony Gauge. Kimiko unsheathes her sword rather plainly before dashing onward towards a target, then stabbing them with the tip of her enhanced weapon, preferably in the stomach. Should the stabbing be successful, she then begins to fuel her blade with her spiritual energy in an attempt to connect both she and the target to one another. Due to the blade's nature as an instrument of balance, this maneuver causes it to begin treating the target similarly to Kimiko's surroundings, and so it sets out to balance something from the target around and eventually within the Hand of Yama. In this case, considering that one's soul is both a personification of life and death, this something is the target's reiatsu. The amount of reiatsu taken from the target is dependent on the gap between their and Kimiko's class, and the total reiatsu pool of the target, as noted below:
What is taken from the target is retrieved in the form of black and white "ink" similar to what is retrieved from Kimiko's surroundings. It first revolves around the woman, joining what is slowly becoming a void of washi beige, before then becoming absorbed by her being. Unlike what is contained within her surroundings, however, the target's reiatsu is returned not to them once Kimiko finishes acting as the Hand of Yama, but rather the earth. As such, this process leaves them frailer, weakened.
In certain cases, this weakening is such that the target's soul is completely emptied of its reiatsu during the rebalancing process. Should this occur, the soul itself and the physical body which surrounds it both collapse completely and are turned into "ink" for Kimiko to balance around herself and eventually flow throughout her body, granting her a 25% buff to Speed and Spiritual Pressure until the end of the thread. After the battle is over, the rebalanced reiatsu - or rather, the target's soul - is liberated and sent to the Cycle.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
The direct siphoning of one's spiritual energy, be they man or beast, is no easy task. Even the Hand of Yama must consider this as she contemplates executing this technique, for the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to be capable of doing so are substantial:
With the requirements aside, the use of Saiban may also prove to be rather ineffective depending on the target chosen. This is especially apparent when it is executed on a target who possesses a low Spiritual Pressure stat, causing the energy gained from its siphoning to be unfortunately too low due to the amount of spiritual energy Kimiko must spend from her own reserve in order to execute the technique.
- 7-8 Gap: 100%
- 5-6 Gap: 75%
- 3-4 Gap: 40%
- 1-2 Gap: 20%
- No Gap (if more reiatsu is used): 10%
- No Gap: 0%
What is taken from the target is retrieved in the form of black and white "ink" similar to what is retrieved from Kimiko's surroundings. It first revolves around the woman, joining what is slowly becoming a void of washi beige, before then becoming absorbed by her being. Unlike what is contained within her surroundings, however, the target's reiatsu is returned not to them once Kimiko finishes acting as the Hand of Yama, but rather the earth. As such, this process leaves them frailer, weakened.
In certain cases, this weakening is such that the target's soul is completely emptied of its reiatsu during the rebalancing process. Should this occur, the soul itself and the physical body which surrounds it both collapse completely and are turned into "ink" for Kimiko to balance around herself and eventually flow throughout her body, granting her a 25% buff to Speed and Spiritual Pressure until the end of the thread. After the battle is over, the rebalanced reiatsu - or rather, the target's soul - is liberated and sent to the Cycle.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
The direct siphoning of one's spiritual energy, be they man or beast, is no easy task. Even the Hand of Yama must consider this as she contemplates executing this technique, for the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to be capable of doing so are substantial:
- Kimiko must have completely filled her being with the greatest amount of black and white "ink" she can possibly gain from her surroundings, then decide to remove it all from herself completely. Such a thing requires patience, something which may be sorely difficult to obtain should Kimiko find herself in a situation in which she is required to even consider using this technique.
- The target's soul must possess a sufficient amount of power for the 25% Speed and Spiritual Pressure buff to be applied to Kimiko. In other words, the target must either be a named NPC with notable importance or a PC. They cannot be a nameless entity or a simple mook. Additionally, this buff cannot be stacked.
- The attack must not be missed. There are numerous ways for it to not reach its intended target, be it because of the target moving out of its way or quite simply blocking it with armor. Regardless, any of these defensive tactics will render the technique useless if they prove to be successful against it.
With the requirements aside, the use of Saiban may also prove to be rather ineffective depending on the target chosen. This is especially apparent when it is executed on a target who possesses a low Spiritual Pressure stat, causing the energy gained from its siphoning to be unfortunately too low due to the amount of spiritual energy Kimiko must spend from her own reserve in order to execute the technique.
{Shioki (仕置, "Punishment")}
Technique Name: Shioki (仕置, "Punishment")
Technique Type: Bankai | Sentencing
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 2000
Technique Description and Effects
A technique which brings about the wrath of the taijitu in exchange for 100% of Saibankan no Fude's Harmony Gauge. Kimiko begins to glare intensely at her targets until the color of her eyes begins to suddenly shift from its signature red as her irises turn into glowing beads of black and white. While this is accomplished, "ink" brought about by the field of her blade begin to rise, filling the field with a veil that is akin to a great fog. This fog is very heavy, a concentrated force that both presses down and away so as to create a repulsing dome around the field. As it contorts and distorts to such a degree that it begins to overwhelm everything that finds itself part of washi beige which forms the field, each and every being within this field begin to experience a progressive sense of disconnection from the world which surrounds them until their bodies eventually go limp and lose all corporeality.
At a glance, it may appear as though those that have suddenly collapsed have been somehow killed, as their bodies can no longer be touched nor felt. In fact, some may even believe that they have essentially become one with the fog that has begun to amass within the Zanpakuto's field. However, in reality, the target has become afflicted with a particular property which connects them directly to Kimiko. This property is one that she has come to refer to as Yūzai (有罪, "Guilty"). Those who are afflicted by Yūzai enter a catatonic state for the next six posts as their mind is brought somewhere deep within Kimiko's Inner World, in a place beyond the Mountains Eternal and the Restless Stars. There, so deep within the Canvas that not even its typical beige can be witnessed, lies the Yamanoseki (ヤマの席, "Seat of Yama"), the origin of the origin, the beginning of all that has begun.
In appearance, the area resembles a great void composed of only an ivory nothingness for a sky and an ebony ocean for a ground. There is no object to rely upon, no cover to hide behind. There is not even really a seat for anyone to sit upon. Instead, all that could be considered as being present within this void are Kimiko herself - as it is her duty to judge all who are brought within this plane - and an immense taijitu which rests in the stark white sky above, composed of what appears to be black and white "ink" being raised from above and below in the horizon. While this area does not necessarily do anything to the people inside of it at a glance, it will not take long for the people who remain there to notice its sheer abnormality.
For as long as they remain within the Yamanoseki, everyone aside from Kimiko will appear as an "inky" shadow of either light, dark, or grey depending on their Aura stats. Aside from their general figure, they lose every other physical aspect, enough so that they cannot be easily identified by a being possessing a Senses stat that is below 200. Due to their state as a being of "ink", their corporeal self is being steadily balanced away from themselves and instead towards Kimiko, causing them to become weaker and Kimiko herself to become stronger according to their Aura. This process is accomplished per post and is to be interpreted as a transfer of 1% of Speed and Spiritual Pressure per increment of 10 Aura. For example, a character possessing 70 Light Aura and 30 Dark Aura would transfer 7% of their Speed and 3% of their Spiritual Pressure to Kimiko per post. A being of moral balance - meaning someone who carries an equal Light and Dark Aura - will not be directly affected by these losses; however, they will see their Offensive Stat reduced by half as punishment for daring to confront the very embodiment of their morality.
Upon the end of their stay within the Yamanoseki, all of who were afflicted by Yūzai are returned to reality. All stats that have been lost during this process cannot be recovered for the next two posts, after which they are immediately regained in their entirety. If a target's mind has been slain during their judgement, everything that composes them - their body, their power, their soul - is balanced within Kimiko as they collapse onto themselves into "inky" vapor, granting her a 25% buff to Speed and Spiritual Pressure for the remainder of the thread.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
To deliver a proper punishment to a guilty being, the Hand of Yama must abide by the rules of the one she represents. While she is a presentation of Yama, she is not Yama herself, and she thus can judge only with a limited power. In so doing, the following factors must be taken into account while Shioki is being used:
Technique Name: Shioki (仕置, "Punishment")
Technique Type: Bankai | Sentencing
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 2000
Technique Description and Effects
A technique which brings about the wrath of the taijitu in exchange for 100% of Saibankan no Fude's Harmony Gauge. Kimiko begins to glare intensely at her targets until the color of her eyes begins to suddenly shift from its signature red as her irises turn into glowing beads of black and white. While this is accomplished, "ink" brought about by the field of her blade begin to rise, filling the field with a veil that is akin to a great fog. This fog is very heavy, a concentrated force that both presses down and away so as to create a repulsing dome around the field. As it contorts and distorts to such a degree that it begins to overwhelm everything that finds itself part of washi beige which forms the field, each and every being within this field begin to experience a progressive sense of disconnection from the world which surrounds them until their bodies eventually go limp and lose all corporeality.
At a glance, it may appear as though those that have suddenly collapsed have been somehow killed, as their bodies can no longer be touched nor felt. In fact, some may even believe that they have essentially become one with the fog that has begun to amass within the Zanpakuto's field. However, in reality, the target has become afflicted with a particular property which connects them directly to Kimiko. This property is one that she has come to refer to as Yūzai (有罪, "Guilty"). Those who are afflicted by Yūzai enter a catatonic state for the next six posts as their mind is brought somewhere deep within Kimiko's Inner World, in a place beyond the Mountains Eternal and the Restless Stars. There, so deep within the Canvas that not even its typical beige can be witnessed, lies the Yamanoseki (ヤマの席, "Seat of Yama"), the origin of the origin, the beginning of all that has begun.
In appearance, the area resembles a great void composed of only an ivory nothingness for a sky and an ebony ocean for a ground. There is no object to rely upon, no cover to hide behind. There is not even really a seat for anyone to sit upon. Instead, all that could be considered as being present within this void are Kimiko herself - as it is her duty to judge all who are brought within this plane - and an immense taijitu which rests in the stark white sky above, composed of what appears to be black and white "ink" being raised from above and below in the horizon. While this area does not necessarily do anything to the people inside of it at a glance, it will not take long for the people who remain there to notice its sheer abnormality.
For as long as they remain within the Yamanoseki, everyone aside from Kimiko will appear as an "inky" shadow of either light, dark, or grey depending on their Aura stats. Aside from their general figure, they lose every other physical aspect, enough so that they cannot be easily identified by a being possessing a Senses stat that is below 200. Due to their state as a being of "ink", their corporeal self is being steadily balanced away from themselves and instead towards Kimiko, causing them to become weaker and Kimiko herself to become stronger according to their Aura. This process is accomplished per post and is to be interpreted as a transfer of 1% of Speed and Spiritual Pressure per increment of 10 Aura. For example, a character possessing 70 Light Aura and 30 Dark Aura would transfer 7% of their Speed and 3% of their Spiritual Pressure to Kimiko per post. A being of moral balance - meaning someone who carries an equal Light and Dark Aura - will not be directly affected by these losses; however, they will see their Offensive Stat reduced by half as punishment for daring to confront the very embodiment of their morality.
Upon the end of their stay within the Yamanoseki, all of who were afflicted by Yūzai are returned to reality. All stats that have been lost during this process cannot be recovered for the next two posts, after which they are immediately regained in their entirety. If a target's mind has been slain during their judgement, everything that composes them - their body, their power, their soul - is balanced within Kimiko as they collapse onto themselves into "inky" vapor, granting her a 25% buff to Speed and Spiritual Pressure for the remainder of the thread.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
To deliver a proper punishment to a guilty being, the Hand of Yama must abide by the rules of the one she represents. While she is a presentation of Yama, she is not Yama herself, and she thus can judge only with a limited power. In so doing, the following factors must be taken into account while Shioki is being used:
- For as long as this technique is active, Kimiko cannot use Nagare. This means that she cannot become the Sun nor the Moon, as neither of them are permitted to set foot within the Yamanoseki. Moreover, the growth rate of the Harmony Gauge is severely reduced from 35% per post to 15% per post, which forces Kimiko to be more wary of her use of other techniques.
- Should they be caught by this technique as collateral fire, or should they be willing to be affected by the technique in order to assist Kimiko, allies will remain affected by the effects of the Yamanoseki. Kimiko will be unable to prevent the transferring process, even if she does not wish to receive their strength.
- Unlike those afflicted by Yūzai, Kimiko's body does not become foggy while her true self is within the Yamanoseki. This effectively renders her vulnerable to any potential attacks that may be delivered onto her while she is using this technique. Moreover, despite the presence of her physical being, she cannot interact with anything that remains within the outside world as her true self remains within the Yamanoseki, preventing her from communicating with her allies or to defend herself against a powerful being who has suddenly broken through her fog.
- The effects of the fog which occupies the field generated by the blade are to be considered as being similar to both a barrier and a downward force. The primary aspect of the fog can be broken by an attack that is as powerful as 75% of Kimiko's Offensive Stat, meaning her Spiritual Pressure, while its secondary aspect is to be considered as a constant pressure generated by Kimiko's Offensive Stat. Should one be capable of destroying the former and withstanding the latter, they can easily attack Kimiko without fear of any swift repercussion.
- After returning from the Yamanoseki, Kimiko's body will briefly find itself suffering from withdrawal as it is forced to quickly adapt to the sudden loss of the immense energy that was being supplied to it. This withdrawal is painful, enough so that it renders Kimiko dazed and somewhat sluggish for the next two posts.
{Zanpakuto Changes (Original version - 10/04/2022)}
When she was first granted Shizukakane's name and gained the ability to use his powers, Kimiko never really took even the briefest of moments to ponder upon what these aforementioned powers really meant. To her, they were somewhat nonsensical, a strange ability which seemingly did not make much sense. This opinion was only compounded once she formed Taishokukane from her second Asauchi, as he had a similar ability, albeit perhaps of the darker kind. It was difficult to blame her for thinking of it all in such a way; after all, ignoring the fact that she had many other things on her mind at the time, the abilities themselves were indeed confusing. Their names were related to bells, but there was no real correlation between them and the weapons' abilities aside from the noise which came from them as they were swung. They both expelled a form of ink-like energy, but the use of this ink was unconventional and not like how a painter or an artistic sort would use it for. They were opposites in nature, with one being white and the other black, but at the time, she believed that this had no bearing at all on her abilities and was only a matter of cosmetics.
But after Shizukakane's passing and the reveal of her true Bankai, the Vizard found herself finally pondering upon this very matter. She would think about it all quite extensively as she scouted the Canvas, erased the ruins of the old Inner World, and drew the new. Once her work was completed, she gave one final thought to it all and found herself reaching a conclusion. All this time, unbeknownst to her for many decades, her blades bore a most-specific meaning. No, not just a meaning: a purpose. That purpose was to make her an icon of balance. Indeed, all along, the theme of the blades was never about "focus". Unfortunately, at this time, Shizukakane's presence prevented them from acting as they were designed, and so their forms were limited. Their previous combined form, Tsūkakane, is a testament to that. Now that the older spirit is gone, the blades can finally accomplish their intended goal unencumbered, hopefully forever more.
This understanding has allowed the woman to give a more accurate description of her blades that she believes will allow her to eventually reach even greater heights in time. Under this new description, the swords' main ability is to empower their wielder by causing the battlefield to appear to revolve around themselves. Both light and dark, and noise of both high and low frequencies are brought to Kimiko as black or white "ink", and cause her to appear as an embodiment of the taijitu. As a result of this empowerment, both her body and her blades begin to exhume "ink", causing them both to appear less as physical manifestations and more so as though they were drawn in motion. The sounds that are generated by her person, such as her voice and her footsteps, are also amplified due to this empowerment, as they themselves become beacons around which nearby sounds revolve.
[ N E W Z A N P A K U T O ]
When she was first granted Shizukakane's name and gained the ability to use his powers, Kimiko never really took even the briefest of moments to ponder upon what these aforementioned powers really meant. To her, they were somewhat nonsensical, a strange ability which seemingly did not make much sense. This opinion was only compounded once she formed Taishokukane from her second Asauchi, as he had a similar ability, albeit perhaps of the darker kind. It was difficult to blame her for thinking of it all in such a way; after all, ignoring the fact that she had many other things on her mind at the time, the abilities themselves were indeed confusing. Their names were related to bells, but there was no real correlation between them and the weapons' abilities aside from the noise which came from them as they were swung. They both expelled a form of ink-like energy, but the use of this ink was unconventional and not like how a painter or an artistic sort would use it for. They were opposites in nature, with one being white and the other black, but at the time, she believed that this had no bearing at all on her abilities and was only a matter of cosmetics.
But after Shizukakane's passing and the reveal of her true Bankai, the Vizard found herself finally pondering upon this very matter. She would think about it all quite extensively as she scouted the Canvas, erased the ruins of the old Inner World, and drew the new. Once her work was completed, she gave one final thought to it all and found herself reaching a conclusion. All this time, unbeknownst to her for many decades, her blades bore a most-specific meaning. No, not just a meaning: a purpose. That purpose was to make her an icon of balance. Indeed, all along, the theme of the blades was never about "focus". Unfortunately, at this time, Shizukakane's presence prevented them from acting as they were designed, and so their forms were limited. Their previous combined form, Tsūkakane, is a testament to that. Now that the older spirit is gone, the blades can finally accomplish their intended goal unencumbered, hopefully forever more.
This understanding has allowed the woman to give a more accurate description of her blades that she believes will allow her to eventually reach even greater heights in time. Under this new description, the swords' main ability is to empower their wielder by causing the battlefield to appear to revolve around themselves. Both light and dark, and noise of both high and low frequencies are brought to Kimiko as black or white "ink", and cause her to appear as an embodiment of the taijitu. As a result of this empowerment, both her body and her blades begin to exhume "ink", causing them both to appear less as physical manifestations and more so as though they were drawn in motion. The sounds that are generated by her person, such as her voice and her footsteps, are also amplified due to this empowerment, as they themselves become beacons around which nearby sounds revolve.
{Zanzaifude (残在筆, "Remaining Brush")}
Zanzaifude, the white sword, is the first Zanpakuto that Kimiko has gained throughout her Shinigami career. Previously home to the spirit known as Shizukakane, it was then the weapon that she cherished the most between the two she owned. Nowadays, however, the blade houses the elderly one's replacement, and so Kimiko's favoritism has ended. In so doing, the blade now brandishes a new form. While sealed, it appears as a katana stripped of its guard resting in a white scabbard. This particular sheath appears to be made of aged wood unlike its predecessor, and it is marked by a single black dot reminiscent of the yang. When released, the blade takes a sharper, rougher look as it becomes a major container for the white "ink" and a minor container of the black "ink", which itself is contained not within the sword's very being, but rather in a small dot-shaped hole formed within the center of its blade. This hole is visible within the scabbard as well, as a landscape of mountains and forests drawn with black ink now surrounds its dot marking.
As a personification of the yin, the white sword is responsible for the empowerment of Kimiko through the act of balancing the light which is contained within a certain area. What is included in this light is namely colors edging towards brighter shades, and sounds that are to be considered as being high-pitched in nature. To be affected by Zanzaifude's effects, this light must be selectively considered by the Vizard for balancing, and must be contained within a malleable field that is generated by the blade around her person. It covers a maximal distance of 25 meters in diameter which can be decreased if necessary, follows Kimiko's every move, and is mainly identified by the way the world's light bends around and flows within her body as streams of white "ink". Four posts must pass in order for this balancing process to fully deplete the light of the elements chosen by Kimiko, after which these elements are left completely devoid of both brightness and any high-pitched noise they generated for as long as they remain in the field. After being removed from the field, the light which was removed from these elements is returned to them over the course of the next two posts.
For as long as the aforementioned balancing process is active, the light which flows within Kimiko's body grows. This growth is represented by a Light Gauge, which fills up at a pace of around 15% per post in areas that still contain light. If both it and Manzenfude's fields are active in an area, however, this growth will instead be increased to 20% per post in an attempt to properly achieve a balance of energy. The further the light of an area is redirected towards and balanced within Kimiko, the longer the blade becomes, expanding into a bright sheen of white "ink" almost akin to a void separate from this reality. The length of the blade is depicted as follows depending on how filled the Light Gauge is:
The energy contained by the Light Gauge can also be used by Kimiko to perform techniques that cannot be achieved through normal means. These techniques are meant to be more so supportive in nature, as the light - beacon of life and representative of the world's order - ultimately wishes not for the other's death.
Zanzaifude, the white sword, is the first Zanpakuto that Kimiko has gained throughout her Shinigami career. Previously home to the spirit known as Shizukakane, it was then the weapon that she cherished the most between the two she owned. Nowadays, however, the blade houses the elderly one's replacement, and so Kimiko's favoritism has ended. In so doing, the blade now brandishes a new form. While sealed, it appears as a katana stripped of its guard resting in a white scabbard. This particular sheath appears to be made of aged wood unlike its predecessor, and it is marked by a single black dot reminiscent of the yang. When released, the blade takes a sharper, rougher look as it becomes a major container for the white "ink" and a minor container of the black "ink", which itself is contained not within the sword's very being, but rather in a small dot-shaped hole formed within the center of its blade. This hole is visible within the scabbard as well, as a landscape of mountains and forests drawn with black ink now surrounds its dot marking.
Shikai
"Endure, Zanzaifude!"
As a personification of the yin, the white sword is responsible for the empowerment of Kimiko through the act of balancing the light which is contained within a certain area. What is included in this light is namely colors edging towards brighter shades, and sounds that are to be considered as being high-pitched in nature. To be affected by Zanzaifude's effects, this light must be selectively considered by the Vizard for balancing, and must be contained within a malleable field that is generated by the blade around her person. It covers a maximal distance of 25 meters in diameter which can be decreased if necessary, follows Kimiko's every move, and is mainly identified by the way the world's light bends around and flows within her body as streams of white "ink". Four posts must pass in order for this balancing process to fully deplete the light of the elements chosen by Kimiko, after which these elements are left completely devoid of both brightness and any high-pitched noise they generated for as long as they remain in the field. After being removed from the field, the light which was removed from these elements is returned to them over the course of the next two posts.
For as long as the aforementioned balancing process is active, the light which flows within Kimiko's body grows. This growth is represented by a Light Gauge, which fills up at a pace of around 15% per post in areas that still contain light. If both it and Manzenfude's fields are active in an area, however, this growth will instead be increased to 20% per post in an attempt to properly achieve a balance of energy. The further the light of an area is redirected towards and balanced within Kimiko, the longer the blade becomes, expanding into a bright sheen of white "ink" almost akin to a void separate from this reality. The length of the blade is depicted as follows depending on how filled the Light Gauge is:
- 0-20%: 0.6m. No change in base size.
- 21-40%: 1m
- 41-60%: 1.5m
- 61-80%: 2m
- 81-99%: 2.5m
- 100%: 4m
The energy contained by the Light Gauge can also be used by Kimiko to perform techniques that cannot be achieved through normal means. These techniques are meant to be more so supportive in nature, as the light - beacon of life and representative of the world's order - ultimately wishes not for the other's death.
{Manzenfude (漫然筆, "Wandering Brush")}
Manzenfude, the black sword, is the second Zanpakuto that Kimiko has gained throughout her Shinigami career. An anomaly in nature due to its conception from a second Asauchi by the same officer, it was the blade that the Vizard loathed between the two she owned as it once housed Taishokukane. With that said, now that Taishokukane has undergone his rebirth as Zanzaifude and has moved to the white sword, the blade now instead acts as the unconventional residence of her Inner Hollow turned "spirit". As such, much like its brighter brethren, the weapon currently also possesses a different appearance when compared to its earlier iteration. While sealed, it resembles katana with a missing guard much like Zanzaifude, and rests within a black scabbard. Unlike Zanzaifude's sheath, however, Manzenfude's appears to be composed of wet coral and is marked with a white dot reminiscent of the yin. When released, the blade takes on a more unorthodox look with a curvier blade and a wet hilt, though essentially becomes much like its sibling: a container for the black "ink" and a minor container of the white "ink", which itself is contained within a hole that is encrusted into the center of the blade and is visible within the scabbard. Great ocean waves of white appears to surround the hole, calm yet powerful, seemingly waiting the swallow the hole whole.
As a personification of the yang, the black sword is responsible for the empowerment of Kimiko through the act of balancing the dark which is contained within a certain area. What is included in this dark is namely colors edging towards more-tenebrous shades, and sounds that are to be considered as being low-pitched in nature. As to be expected, the way this balancing is achieved is very similar to how it is achieved by the sword's lighter brethren. To be affected by Manzaifude's effects, this dark must also be selectively considered by the Vizard for balancing, and it must be contained within a malleable field that is generated by the blade. It also follows Kimiko's every move, and its distance can be decreased if necessary. However, unlike Zanzaifude's field, this field covers a maximal distance of 30 meters in diameter, and is mainly identified by the way the world's darkness bends around and flows within her body as streams of black "ink". Three posts must pass in order for this balancing process to fully deplete the dark of the elements chosen by Kimiko, after which these elements are left completely devoid of both darkness and any low-pitched noise they generated for as long as they remain in the field. After being removed from the field, the dark which was removed from these elements is returned to them over the course of the next two posts.
For as long as the aforementioned balancing process is active, the dark which flows within Kimiko's body grows. This growth is represented by another delimiter: the Dark Gauge. Unlike the Light Gauge, the Dark Gauge fills up at a quicker pace of around 20% per post in areas that still contain darkness. The further the darkness of an area is redirected towards and balanced within Kimiko, the longer the blade becomes, expanding into an abyssal bolt of black "ink" almost akin to a void separate from this reality. The length of the blade is depicted as follows depending on how filled the Dark Gauge is:
The energy contained by the Dark Gauge can naturally also be used by Kimiko to perform techniques. These techniques, however, have a more sinister and aggressive stance behind their supportive ways, as the dark - harbinger of death and bringer of chaos - ultimately cares not for the other's life.
Manzenfude, the black sword, is the second Zanpakuto that Kimiko has gained throughout her Shinigami career. An anomaly in nature due to its conception from a second Asauchi by the same officer, it was the blade that the Vizard loathed between the two she owned as it once housed Taishokukane. With that said, now that Taishokukane has undergone his rebirth as Zanzaifude and has moved to the white sword, the blade now instead acts as the unconventional residence of her Inner Hollow turned "spirit". As such, much like its brighter brethren, the weapon currently also possesses a different appearance when compared to its earlier iteration. While sealed, it resembles katana with a missing guard much like Zanzaifude, and rests within a black scabbard. Unlike Zanzaifude's sheath, however, Manzenfude's appears to be composed of wet coral and is marked with a white dot reminiscent of the yin. When released, the blade takes on a more unorthodox look with a curvier blade and a wet hilt, though essentially becomes much like its sibling: a container for the black "ink" and a minor container of the white "ink", which itself is contained within a hole that is encrusted into the center of the blade and is visible within the scabbard. Great ocean waves of white appears to surround the hole, calm yet powerful, seemingly waiting the swallow the hole whole.
Shikai
"Roam, Manzenfude!"
As a personification of the yang, the black sword is responsible for the empowerment of Kimiko through the act of balancing the dark which is contained within a certain area. What is included in this dark is namely colors edging towards more-tenebrous shades, and sounds that are to be considered as being low-pitched in nature. As to be expected, the way this balancing is achieved is very similar to how it is achieved by the sword's lighter brethren. To be affected by Manzaifude's effects, this dark must also be selectively considered by the Vizard for balancing, and it must be contained within a malleable field that is generated by the blade. It also follows Kimiko's every move, and its distance can be decreased if necessary. However, unlike Zanzaifude's field, this field covers a maximal distance of 30 meters in diameter, and is mainly identified by the way the world's darkness bends around and flows within her body as streams of black "ink". Three posts must pass in order for this balancing process to fully deplete the dark of the elements chosen by Kimiko, after which these elements are left completely devoid of both darkness and any low-pitched noise they generated for as long as they remain in the field. After being removed from the field, the dark which was removed from these elements is returned to them over the course of the next two posts.
For as long as the aforementioned balancing process is active, the dark which flows within Kimiko's body grows. This growth is represented by another delimiter: the Dark Gauge. Unlike the Light Gauge, the Dark Gauge fills up at a quicker pace of around 20% per post in areas that still contain darkness. The further the darkness of an area is redirected towards and balanced within Kimiko, the longer the blade becomes, expanding into an abyssal bolt of black "ink" almost akin to a void separate from this reality. The length of the blade is depicted as follows depending on how filled the Dark Gauge is:
- 0-20%: 1m. No change in base size.
- 21-40%: 1.5m
- 41-60%: 2m
- 61-80%: 2.5m
- 81-99%: 3m
- 100%: 5m
The energy contained by the Dark Gauge can naturally also be used by Kimiko to perform techniques. These techniques, however, have a more sinister and aggressive stance behind their supportive ways, as the dark - harbinger of death and bringer of chaos - ultimately cares not for the other's life.
{Saibankan no Fude: Yamanote (裁判官 の 筆 : やまの手, "Judge's Brush: Hand of Yama")}
The matter of Bankai has always been a touchy subject for Kimiko. There were many reasons behind why she hated speaking of it, but the greatest of them all was that she simply hated it. She hated its power, its strength, and what it was meant to be, and for all intents and purposes, she would have preferred to never have learned how to use it. In other words, it was a total failure, and she wished that it had never been born. However, shortly after Yume's defeat, she learned that it was so not because it was meant to be as such, but rather because it was a fusion between a fabricated light and an uncooperative dark. For as long as Shizukakane remained, she was to forever be stuck with Tsūkakane, for you cannot combine an anomaly with a spirit. Now that the anomaly that was Shizukakane has been removed, the white sword and the black sword can now act in proper unison. They are truly life and death, order and chaos, peace and destruction.
Considering this, what happens now when these two fundamentals are combined? One may assume that it would simply create another Tsūkakane, nothing more than a second abomination. But now, as the blades reach ultimate balance, they can properly achieve what could not be done before. No more would they act selfishly, no more would they behave in spite of Kimiko's existence. From this moment onward, they shall act in service to Kimiko proper, and make her the true avatar of balance she was always meant to be. In so doing, when the two blades are combined, they no longer attempt to destroy everything in their path as an ultimate error. Instead, the world begins to expel white and black "ink" all around the Vizard, and sends it towards her, causing her to be engulfed by the energy. As she becomes the epicenter of the yin and yang, the surge of "ink" eventually ceases to be, and by then, all that remains is a being carrying the duties of the celestial judge: the Hand of Yama.
Saibankan no Fude: Yamanote is what the Vizard's Bankai should have been all along. It is the ultimate combination of the white sword and the black sword, the true union of a being of light (yang) and a creature of dark (yin), and the power that is generated from their merging is all bestowed to Kimiko in a flow of immense spiritual energy. As a result of this, the woman's appearance changes to better suit her duty as an avatar of equilibrium. Her hair grows longer, enough so that it begins reaching the back of her knees, and their color takes on a predominantly white tone with black highlights on the underside. Meanwhile, her clothes change to take on a look reminiscent of the warring ages of Japan, with a mixture of both armor and cloth designed for unrivaled offense against all odds. The only things that are seemingly devoid of modification are her eyes which retain their original red, though given the tinctures of her new form... perhaps they did not require any changes.
For as long as she remains in this form, the Hand of Yama carries the blade of balance. At a glance, it appears as an indistinct streak of black and white "ink" in the vague shape of a sword. It remains steady as a perfect flow of controlled spiritual energy, undisturbed by even the greatest violence. Somehow, despite it being made of what could only be assumed to be non-corporeal material, Kimiko is able to hold it with ease and even return it to a sheath that she can manifest within her hand at any given time, thus allowing her to still use Iaijutsu despite having no physical scabbard. However, the weapon is otherwise unable to be held by even those who are most endowed with spiritual power for more than a few seconds, for their fingers will then find themselves simply passing through it. This renders it only connected to the Vizard proper, which is made apparent from the fact that she can regenerate the sword at any time within the palm of her hand whenever it is somehow lost.
Much like Zanzaifude and Manzenfude on their own, Saibankan no Fude generates a malleable field around Kimiko that follows her every move. This field can cover a maximal distance of 50m of diameter, and it is made noticeable to others by the way the world appears to bend around her as an "inky" version of itself until the paths of all that composes it - its form, shape, color, noise, etc - are fully redirected within Kimiko, leaving nothing behind but an empty washi beige. This process is accomplished over the course of two posts to specific entities that the Vizard selects, though what they are is not entirely absorbed by Kimiko or Saibankan no Fude unless she specifically chooses to have it do so. No more shall a weapon of hers consume indiscriminately. She is not a Hollow, and in so doing, she shall not allow something as personal as a Zanpakuto to represent her as such. Instead, it shall only consume selectively and passionately, as any weapon of balance should.
While active, Saibankan no Fude possesses its own gauge referred to as the Harmony Gauge. This gauge grows quicker than the Light Gauge and the Dark Gauge at a pace of 35% per post, but it also delimits how longer Saibankan no Fude can become, as can be observed with the numbers below:
Much like these other gauges, percentages of the Harmony Gauge can be exchanged for greater power, though the main way this power is acquired could be considered as being quite unorthodox. At any given moment, the Hand of Yama may unshackle herself from perfect equilibrium to instead completely dedicate her being to either the light or the dark. This process is referred to by Kimiko as Nagare (流れ, "Flow"), which mainly revolves around either the complete purification of the black and white "ink" surrounding her being until all that remains is a white sheen, or its complete corruption until what is left is only but a dark abyss. Though the way this process is described may make it appear as a harmful procedure that will only do more harm than good, the Hand of Yama nevertheless remains in control throughout it, which allows her to manifest herself and her powers through two different shapes. These shapes are respectively the Sun and the Moon.
As the Sun, Kimiko appears as a devil of white. Her hair becomes a long mane of bright "ink" that appears to be drawn on the spot by an invisible painter, causing it to leave trails behind its wake that eventually dissipates into nothingness. The cloth that she adorned has been replaced by more armor, causing her to appear as a warrior of times further forgotten by the people of Japan, and with this new abundance of spiritual steel is also formed horns at the top of her forehead, the both of which are tall and formed from the "ink". The horns may physically only be for show, seeing as they are not at all corporeal and therefore could not harm even the weakest of flies. However, in Kimiko's eyes, they are symbolic to her wish to become the devil at the service of the Soul Society, its ultimate weapon that shall survive every attack in order to return it all to the sender with the greatest might. As such, she is thankful that her Bankai showcases them to the world, even if they are only delimited to this particular form.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, as the Moon, she instead appears as what could be considered as a more modern devil of darkness. Her head is suddenly covered by the hat of a military officer as her hair becomes a sprawl of black "ink" which floats aimlessly around her being, as though it itself is submerged in deep waters. Her armor is completely stripped away from her person, leaving behind only but the cloth of what appears to be an exaggerated rendition of an outfit that would typically be worn by a long-standing admiral of the Japanese's Imperial Navy during the likes of World War II and slightly onward. This, at first, appears to be a rather unfitting pick, and even Kimiko believed it to be a rather strange appearance for her to take once she first manifested herself as such. However, she eventually began to express it as a personification of her wish to eliminate all who stands against the Soul Society as powerfully and as mercilessly as possible, even if it may one day lead her to her demise.
For as long as Kimiko remains as the Sun or the Moon, she limits herself to the use of either Zanzaifude or Manzenfude respectively. However, this limitation allows the Vizard to use a more powerful version of either of the blades that possesses more potent techniques in exchange for percentages of the Discord Gauge, a substitute for the Light Gauge or the Dark Gauge. This replacement grows at a pace of 25% per post, and mainly does so by boosting the effectiveness of the other gauges' main source of energy. More explicitly, a heightened Zanzaifude redirects light within Kimiko to such a degree that it would leave behind only darkness and low-pitched noise in the area that it has affected in the matter of 4 posts, while a heightened Manzenfude instead leaves only light and high-pitched noise in the area after the same period of time has passed.
Considering this, what happens now when these two fundamentals are combined? One may assume that it would simply create another Tsūkakane, nothing more than a second abomination. But now, as the blades reach ultimate balance, they can properly achieve what could not be done before. No more would they act selfishly, no more would they behave in spite of Kimiko's existence. From this moment onward, they shall act in service to Kimiko proper, and make her the true avatar of balance she was always meant to be. In so doing, when the two blades are combined, they no longer attempt to destroy everything in their path as an ultimate error. Instead, the world begins to expel white and black "ink" all around the Vizard, and sends it towards her, causing her to be engulfed by the energy. As she becomes the epicenter of the yin and yang, the surge of "ink" eventually ceases to be, and by then, all that remains is a being carrying the duties of the celestial judge: the Hand of Yama.
Saibankan no Fude: Yamanote is what the Vizard's Bankai should have been all along. It is the ultimate combination of the white sword and the black sword, the true union of a being of light (yang) and a creature of dark (yin), and the power that is generated from their merging is all bestowed to Kimiko in a flow of immense spiritual energy. As a result of this, the woman's appearance changes to better suit her duty as an avatar of equilibrium. Her hair grows longer, enough so that it begins reaching the back of her knees, and their color takes on a predominantly white tone with black highlights on the underside. Meanwhile, her clothes change to take on a look reminiscent of the warring ages of Japan, with a mixture of both armor and cloth designed for unrivaled offense against all odds. The only things that are seemingly devoid of modification are her eyes which retain their original red, though given the tinctures of her new form... perhaps they did not require any changes.
For as long as she remains in this form, the Hand of Yama carries the blade of balance. At a glance, it appears as an indistinct streak of black and white "ink" in the vague shape of a sword. It remains steady as a perfect flow of controlled spiritual energy, undisturbed by even the greatest violence. Somehow, despite it being made of what could only be assumed to be non-corporeal material, Kimiko is able to hold it with ease and even return it to a sheath that she can manifest within her hand at any given time, thus allowing her to still use Iaijutsu despite having no physical scabbard. However, the weapon is otherwise unable to be held by even those who are most endowed with spiritual power for more than a few seconds, for their fingers will then find themselves simply passing through it. This renders it only connected to the Vizard proper, which is made apparent from the fact that she can regenerate the sword at any time within the palm of her hand whenever it is somehow lost.
Much like Zanzaifude and Manzenfude on their own, Saibankan no Fude generates a malleable field around Kimiko that follows her every move. This field can cover a maximal distance of 50m of diameter, and it is made noticeable to others by the way the world appears to bend around her as an "inky" version of itself until the paths of all that composes it - its form, shape, color, noise, etc - are fully redirected within Kimiko, leaving nothing behind but an empty washi beige. This process is accomplished over the course of two posts to specific entities that the Vizard selects, though what they are is not entirely absorbed by Kimiko or Saibankan no Fude unless she specifically chooses to have it do so. No more shall a weapon of hers consume indiscriminately. She is not a Hollow, and in so doing, she shall not allow something as personal as a Zanpakuto to represent her as such. Instead, it shall only consume selectively and passionately, as any weapon of balance should.
While active, Saibankan no Fude possesses its own gauge referred to as the Harmony Gauge. This gauge grows quicker than the Light Gauge and the Dark Gauge at a pace of 35% per post, but it also delimits how longer Saibankan no Fude can become, as can be observed with the numbers below:
- 0-20%: 2m. No change in base size.
- 21-40%: 3m
- 41-60%: 4m
- 61-80%: 5m
- 81-99%: 6m
- 100%: 8m
Much like these other gauges, percentages of the Harmony Gauge can be exchanged for greater power, though the main way this power is acquired could be considered as being quite unorthodox. At any given moment, the Hand of Yama may unshackle herself from perfect equilibrium to instead completely dedicate her being to either the light or the dark. This process is referred to by Kimiko as Nagare (流れ, "Flow"), which mainly revolves around either the complete purification of the black and white "ink" surrounding her being until all that remains is a white sheen, or its complete corruption until what is left is only but a dark abyss. Though the way this process is described may make it appear as a harmful procedure that will only do more harm than good, the Hand of Yama nevertheless remains in control throughout it, which allows her to manifest herself and her powers through two different shapes. These shapes are respectively the Sun and the Moon.
As the Sun, Kimiko appears as a devil of white. Her hair becomes a long mane of bright "ink" that appears to be drawn on the spot by an invisible painter, causing it to leave trails behind its wake that eventually dissipates into nothingness. The cloth that she adorned has been replaced by more armor, causing her to appear as a warrior of times further forgotten by the people of Japan, and with this new abundance of spiritual steel is also formed horns at the top of her forehead, the both of which are tall and formed from the "ink". The horns may physically only be for show, seeing as they are not at all corporeal and therefore could not harm even the weakest of flies. However, in Kimiko's eyes, they are symbolic to her wish to become the devil at the service of the Soul Society, its ultimate weapon that shall survive every attack in order to return it all to the sender with the greatest might. As such, she is thankful that her Bankai showcases them to the world, even if they are only delimited to this particular form.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, as the Moon, she instead appears as what could be considered as a more modern devil of darkness. Her head is suddenly covered by the hat of a military officer as her hair becomes a sprawl of black "ink" which floats aimlessly around her being, as though it itself is submerged in deep waters. Her armor is completely stripped away from her person, leaving behind only but the cloth of what appears to be an exaggerated rendition of an outfit that would typically be worn by a long-standing admiral of the Japanese's Imperial Navy during the likes of World War II and slightly onward. This, at first, appears to be a rather unfitting pick, and even Kimiko believed it to be a rather strange appearance for her to take once she first manifested herself as such. However, she eventually began to express it as a personification of her wish to eliminate all who stands against the Soul Society as powerfully and as mercilessly as possible, even if it may one day lead her to her demise.
For as long as Kimiko remains as the Sun or the Moon, she limits herself to the use of either Zanzaifude or Manzenfude respectively. However, this limitation allows the Vizard to use a more powerful version of either of the blades that possesses more potent techniques in exchange for percentages of the Discord Gauge, a substitute for the Light Gauge or the Dark Gauge. This replacement grows at a pace of 25% per post, and mainly does so by boosting the effectiveness of the other gauges' main source of energy. More explicitly, a heightened Zanzaifude redirects light within Kimiko to such a degree that it would leave behind only darkness and low-pitched noise in the area that it has affected in the matter of 4 posts, while a heightened Manzenfude instead leaves only light and high-pitched noise in the area after the same period of time has passed.
[ R E W O R K E D T E C H N I Q U E S ]
{Zanpakuto}
{Zanzaifude, the One Who Prevails}
{Hikaru Shinki (光る振起, "Luminous Stimulation")}
Technique Name: Hikaru Shinki (光る振起, "Luminous Stimulation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Stat Buff
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
A boost of Speed which can be exchanged for 10-50% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her left forearm before sliding the flat side of her blade against it, causing the white "ink" covering it to be absorbed by her body. This causes trails of the strange supernatural substance to appear on her akin to drawn mist emanating from her being. In response to this absorption, the swordswoman's physical being gains a drastic boost of Speed, allowing her to dodge her adversaries more efficiently. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, the boost will provide Kimiko with an effect of variable power and time that does not cause her physical exhaustion:
Technique Name: Hikaru Shinki (光る振起, "Luminous Stimulation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Stat Buff
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
A boost of Speed which can be exchanged for 10-50% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her left forearm before sliding the flat side of her blade against it, causing the white "ink" covering it to be absorbed by her body. This causes trails of the strange supernatural substance to appear on her akin to drawn mist emanating from her being. In response to this absorption, the swordswoman's physical being gains a drastic boost of Speed, allowing her to dodge her adversaries more efficiently. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, the boost will provide Kimiko with an effect of variable power and time that does not cause her physical exhaustion:
- 50%: 50% Speed increase for 2 posts
- 40%: 40% Speed increase for 3 posts
- 30%: 30% Speed increase for 4 posts
- 20%: 20% Speed increase for 5 posts
- 10%: 10% Speed increase for 6 posts
In exchange for additional percentages of the Light Gauge, Kimiko can reuse this technique to raise the boost of energy she has gained up to a maximum of 50% and, consequently, reset its effect's timer. However, doing so will reduce the timer in question depending on the increment of ten that has been reached. For example, if the aforementioned boost is at 10%, it can be raised to 50% at any time to set its timer back to 0, but its new timer will last for 2 posts instead of 6 posts. Any further use of this technique beyond 50% will only reset the maxed effect's timer.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Sun, the white "ink" absorbed within Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the boost of Speed tied to this absorption to be doubled and for it to last two more posts. The trails become more akin to drawn clouds of bright white, and at a glance, it almost seems as though her form is becoming a source of condensation. If it were not for their transparency, these trails would be almost akin to fog.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its nature as a new source of energy dedicated to increasing one's velocity, this buff's effects are to be considered not as a multiplicative source, but rather as an additive one. For example, should Kimiko decide to wear the Vizard Mask and therefore double the effectiveness of the Speed she can reach on the field, the execution of Hikaru Shinki will only be capable of adding the result of the buff's effects on her base Speed to the Speed increased by the Mask.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Sun, the white "ink" absorbed within Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the boost of Speed tied to this absorption to be doubled and for it to last two more posts. The trails become more akin to drawn clouds of bright white, and at a glance, it almost seems as though her form is becoming a source of condensation. If it were not for their transparency, these trails would be almost akin to fog.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its nature as a new source of energy dedicated to increasing one's velocity, this buff's effects are to be considered not as a multiplicative source, but rather as an additive one. For example, should Kimiko decide to wear the Vizard Mask and therefore double the effectiveness of the Speed she can reach on the field, the execution of Hikaru Shinki will only be capable of adding the result of the buff's effects on her base Speed to the Speed increased by the Mask.
{Hikaru Yōsai (光る加速, "Luminous Fortification")}
Technique Name: Hikaru Yōsai (光る加速, "Luminous Fortification")
Technique Type: Shikai | Armor Creation
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 250, 500 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
The formation of armor around parts of the body which can be exchanged for 30-50% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko balls her hands into fists before slamming her feet down onto the ground (or air) below and letting out a loud cry, causing the white "ink" surrounding her blade to immediately attempt to cover her body as a response. Once done, the substance then hardens into a fabric as hard as steel, drastically raising the swordswoman's defenses. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, the fabric will cover a variable amount of Kimiko's body starting with her right arm:
Technique Name: Hikaru Yōsai (光る加速, "Luminous Fortification")
Technique Type: Shikai | Armor Creation
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 250, 500 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
The formation of armor around parts of the body which can be exchanged for 30-50% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko balls her hands into fists before slamming her feet down onto the ground (or air) below and letting out a loud cry, causing the white "ink" surrounding her blade to immediately attempt to cover her body as a response. Once done, the substance then hardens into a fabric as hard as steel, drastically raising the swordswoman's defenses. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, the fabric will cover a variable amount of Kimiko's body starting with her right arm:
- 50%: Full Body
- 40%: Upper Body + Helmet
- 30%: Right Arm
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Sun, the white "ink" surrounding Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the armor it produces to completely ignore the knockback effect of every attack which hits it. Due to its sheer potency, the hardened "ink" appears to almost shine brightly as it surrounds the Vizard, with it even appearing misty as though it is composed of a higher material beyond the realm of even spiritual chemistry. A fitting suit of armor for an avatar of the distant star.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
The armor's durability is dependent of Kimiko's Offensive Stat - meaning her Spiritual Pressure - upon its creation. For as long as it remains active, it cannot be strengthened by a technique which grants additional Spiritual Pressure to her, and it cannot be stacked on top of itself by an additional execution of the technique. Moreover, in the case that it finds itself damaged or broken by an opponent who possesses a higher Offensive Stat, it cannot be repaired by conventional means, as it instead requires Kimiko to use the technique again in order to do so.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
The armor's durability is dependent of Kimiko's Offensive Stat - meaning her Spiritual Pressure - upon its creation. For as long as it remains active, it cannot be strengthened by a technique which grants additional Spiritual Pressure to her, and it cannot be stacked on top of itself by an additional execution of the technique. Moreover, in the case that it finds itself damaged or broken by an opponent who possesses a higher Offensive Stat, it cannot be repaired by conventional means, as it instead requires Kimiko to use the technique again in order to do so.
{Hikaru Keigen (光る軽減, "Luminous Alleviation")}
Technique Name: Hikaru Keigen (光る軽減, "Luminous Alleviation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Self-Heal
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
A technique which cleanses the body of harm for 50-100% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko stand still for a brief moment of time before taking a deep breath, absorbing the white "ink" of her blade in the process to ease her pain. As this process is completed, the substance enters her body to cleanse the mind and soul, ridding the swordswoman of wounds, poisons and diseases. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, Kimiko will be healed up to a certain extent, cleansing the following:
Technique Name: Hikaru Keigen (光る軽減, "Luminous Alleviation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Self-Heal
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
A technique which cleanses the body of harm for 50-100% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko stand still for a brief moment of time before taking a deep breath, absorbing the white "ink" of her blade in the process to ease her pain. As this process is completed, the substance enters her body to cleanse the mind and soul, ridding the swordswoman of wounds, poisons and diseases. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, Kimiko will be healed up to a certain extent, cleansing the following:
- 100%: Major injuries and debuffs. Ex: Heavy sword wounds, shattered bones, destroyed muscle tissue and organs, third and fourth degree burns, fatal poisons and diseases, etc.
- 75%: Average injuries and debuffs. Ex: sword wounds, broken bones, damaged muscle tissue, second-degree burns, common poisons and rarer diseases, etc.
- 50%: Minor injuries and debuffs. Ex: scratches, scars, light bite marks, effects of weak tranquilizers and common diseases, etc.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Sun, the white "ink" absorbed by Kimiko becomes much more potent, causing the absorption process itself to require half as much "ink" as usual and for a new path to be opened to the Vizard. This new path takes the form of a more gradual process which slowly restores Kimiko to health, cleansing her of one wound per post for 10% of the Discord Gauge. Should this path be followed, Kimiko can eventually begin to regrow lost limbs and a damaged heart.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Despite its effectiveness, there is only so much pain and suffering that can be cleansed by Hikaru Keigen. After all, its purpose is not necessarily to heal, but rather to alleviate. Outside of the gradual process, extreme wounds such as the loss of limbs, the destruction of the heart, and the obliteration of the Saketsu and Hakusui are all beyond this technique's ability to take care of, especially in the obvious case of the latter, and so must be treated by a specialized medical expert or scientist. Even if the healing process is gradual, only wounds that have been received prior to its activation can be healed, and not new ones. Nevertheless, the technique can be used as a means to cut off both pain and blood loss provided by the first two of these specific wounds, allowing Kimiko to fight just a little bit longer before collapsing.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Despite its effectiveness, there is only so much pain and suffering that can be cleansed by Hikaru Keigen. After all, its purpose is not necessarily to heal, but rather to alleviate. Outside of the gradual process, extreme wounds such as the loss of limbs, the destruction of the heart, and the obliteration of the Saketsu and Hakusui are all beyond this technique's ability to take care of, especially in the obvious case of the latter, and so must be treated by a specialized medical expert or scientist. Even if the healing process is gradual, only wounds that have been received prior to its activation can be healed, and not new ones. Nevertheless, the technique can be used as a means to cut off both pain and blood loss provided by the first two of these specific wounds, allowing Kimiko to fight just a little bit longer before collapsing.
{Manzenfude, Wayfarer of the Great Beyond}
{Bakuzen Bairitsu (漠然倍率, "Obscure Magnification")}
Technique Name: Bakuzen Bairitsu (漠然倍率, "Obscure Magnification")
Technique Type: Shikai | Stat Buff
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
A boost of Spiritual Pressure which can be exchanged for 10-50% of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her right forearm before sliding the flat side of her blade against it, causing the black "ink" covering it to be absorbed by her body. This causes trails of the strange supernatural substance to appear on her akin to drawn smoke emanating from her being. In response to this absorption, the swordswoman's physical being gains a drastic boost of Spiritual Pressure, allowing her to strike her adversaries with greater power. Depending on how much of the Dark Gauge is used during this process, the boost will provide Kimiko with an effect of variable power and time:
In exchange for additional percentages of the Dark Gauge, Kimiko can reuse this technique to raise the boost of speed she has gained up to a maximum of 50% and, consequently, reset its effect's timer. However, doing so will reduce the timer in question depending on the increment of ten that has been reached. For example, if the aforementioned boost is at 10%, it can be raised to 50% at any time to set its timer back to 0, but its new timer will last for 2 posts instead of 6 posts. Any further use beyond 50% will only reset the maxed effect's timer.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the black "ink" absorbed within Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the boost of Spiritual Energy tied to this absorption to be doubled and for it to last two more posts. The trails become more akin to drawn clouds of darkness, and at a glance, it almost seems as though her form is becoming a source of incineration. Compared to Zanzaifude's drawn clouds, those related by Manzenfude tend to be more opaque, causing Kimiko to be slightly harder to see while she is surrounded by them.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its nature as a new source of energy dedicated to increasing one's velocity, this buff's effects are to be considered not as a multiplicative source, but rather as an additive one. For example, should Kimiko decide to wear the Vizard Mask and therefore double the effectiveness of the Spiritual Energy she can reach on the field, the execution of Bakuzen Bairitsu will only be capable of adding the result of the buff's effects on her base Spiritual Energy to the Spiritual Energy increased by the Mask.
Technique Name: Bakuzen Bairitsu (漠然倍率, "Obscure Magnification")
Technique Type: Shikai | Stat Buff
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
A boost of Spiritual Pressure which can be exchanged for 10-50% of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her right forearm before sliding the flat side of her blade against it, causing the black "ink" covering it to be absorbed by her body. This causes trails of the strange supernatural substance to appear on her akin to drawn smoke emanating from her being. In response to this absorption, the swordswoman's physical being gains a drastic boost of Spiritual Pressure, allowing her to strike her adversaries with greater power. Depending on how much of the Dark Gauge is used during this process, the boost will provide Kimiko with an effect of variable power and time:
- 50%: 50% Spiritual Pressure increase for 2 posts
- 40%: 40% Spiritual Pressure increase for 3 posts
- 30%: 30% Spiritual Pressure increase for 4 posts
- 20%: 20% Spiritual Pressure increase for 5 posts
- 10%: 10% Spiritual Pressure increase for 6 posts
In exchange for additional percentages of the Dark Gauge, Kimiko can reuse this technique to raise the boost of speed she has gained up to a maximum of 50% and, consequently, reset its effect's timer. However, doing so will reduce the timer in question depending on the increment of ten that has been reached. For example, if the aforementioned boost is at 10%, it can be raised to 50% at any time to set its timer back to 0, but its new timer will last for 2 posts instead of 6 posts. Any further use beyond 50% will only reset the maxed effect's timer.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the black "ink" absorbed within Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the boost of Spiritual Energy tied to this absorption to be doubled and for it to last two more posts. The trails become more akin to drawn clouds of darkness, and at a glance, it almost seems as though her form is becoming a source of incineration. Compared to Zanzaifude's drawn clouds, those related by Manzenfude tend to be more opaque, causing Kimiko to be slightly harder to see while she is surrounded by them.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its nature as a new source of energy dedicated to increasing one's velocity, this buff's effects are to be considered not as a multiplicative source, but rather as an additive one. For example, should Kimiko decide to wear the Vizard Mask and therefore double the effectiveness of the Spiritual Energy she can reach on the field, the execution of Bakuzen Bairitsu will only be capable of adding the result of the buff's effects on her base Spiritual Energy to the Spiritual Energy increased by the Mask.
{Bakuzen Keizoku (漠然継続, "Obscure Continuation")}
Technique Name: Bakuzen Kurikaeshi (漠然継続, "Obscure Continuation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Cancel
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 150, 300 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
The creation of an endless assault which can be exchanged for 15% per post of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko's raises her blade above herself, causing it to reduce itself in length, before pointing its tip towards her stomach. Once done, she then plunges the tip within it. Due to her primordial duty as the Hand of Yama, this causes the "ink" composing the blade to pass through her being and be forcefully rebalanced as small traces floating around the Vizard until it is removed from her stomach. At that point, the traces suddenly take a darkened form of herself for all to see until they separate once again.
After these traces have been generated, Kimiko can use them as a means to overwhelm the enemy by having them adopt their form in combat while she is attacking, thus allowing her to cancel the momentum of an attack she has executed. For example, when she is about to swing her sword towards an enemy, the traces of "ink" will suddenly take her form before finishing the sword swing and vanishing, thus allowing Kimiko to follow the process with a completely different attack much more quickly than if she would have executed the process without any spiritual intervention.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the traces of black "ink" that take her form during her attack leaves an imprint upon the direction of where they've struck, causing a small ball of "ink" to appear. This ball grows larger and larger alongside the Discord Gauge. After 45% of this gauge has been filled, the ball bursts, causing a release of air to occur. While it is not damaging enough to actually cause pain, the aforementioned release contains enough power to break one's guard and cause those who are more slippery to find themselves tripping accidentally, leaving them wide open to Kimiko.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
A major amount of "ink" must be continuously supplied to the traces left by the rebalancing of the sword's power. If this supply is stopped, the traces will disappear, taking away with them the "ink" that they have consumed. Moreover, due to the fact that much of the technique's nature revolves primarily around the creation of a pseudo-doppelganger, it is impossible for Kimiko to use offensive techniques for as long as Bakuzen Kurikaeshi as active, for the traces of "ink" do not contain spiritual energy themselves. As such, only free form attacks can be used, thus forcing the Vizard to entirely depend on her physical capabilities in the meantime.
Technique Name: Bakuzen Kurikaeshi (漠然継続, "Obscure Continuation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Cancel
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 150, 300 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
The creation of an endless assault which can be exchanged for 15% per post of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko's raises her blade above herself, causing it to reduce itself in length, before pointing its tip towards her stomach. Once done, she then plunges the tip within it. Due to her primordial duty as the Hand of Yama, this causes the "ink" composing the blade to pass through her being and be forcefully rebalanced as small traces floating around the Vizard until it is removed from her stomach. At that point, the traces suddenly take a darkened form of herself for all to see until they separate once again.
After these traces have been generated, Kimiko can use them as a means to overwhelm the enemy by having them adopt their form in combat while she is attacking, thus allowing her to cancel the momentum of an attack she has executed. For example, when she is about to swing her sword towards an enemy, the traces of "ink" will suddenly take her form before finishing the sword swing and vanishing, thus allowing Kimiko to follow the process with a completely different attack much more quickly than if she would have executed the process without any spiritual intervention.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the traces of black "ink" that take her form during her attack leaves an imprint upon the direction of where they've struck, causing a small ball of "ink" to appear. This ball grows larger and larger alongside the Discord Gauge. After 45% of this gauge has been filled, the ball bursts, causing a release of air to occur. While it is not damaging enough to actually cause pain, the aforementioned release contains enough power to break one's guard and cause those who are more slippery to find themselves tripping accidentally, leaving them wide open to Kimiko.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
A major amount of "ink" must be continuously supplied to the traces left by the rebalancing of the sword's power. If this supply is stopped, the traces will disappear, taking away with them the "ink" that they have consumed. Moreover, due to the fact that much of the technique's nature revolves primarily around the creation of a pseudo-doppelganger, it is impossible for Kimiko to use offensive techniques for as long as Bakuzen Kurikaeshi as active, for the traces of "ink" do not contain spiritual energy themselves. As such, only free form attacks can be used, thus forcing the Vizard to entirely depend on her physical capabilities in the meantime.
{Bakuzen Funka (漠然噴火, "Obscure Eruption")}
Technique Name: Bakuzen Funka (漠然噴火, "Obscure Eruption")
Technique Type: Shikai | Burst
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 500, 1000 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
An abrupt liberation in the form of a violent detonation which can be exchanged for 50% of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko takes a deep breath as she collects the spiritual energy contained within her body, letting it build up within her soul at a rapid pace. Once she believes the amount collected to be sufficient, she then begins to mix it with the black "ink" collected by Manzenfude. As the both of them combine, they eventually begin to push against one another, and at the end of their ultimate conflict, they eventually liberate themselves from Kimiko. The release of these energies is so powerful that it is not gradual, but rather instantaneous, which causes it to appear as a literal explosion of dark. This explosion's power is based on Kimiko's Spiritual Offensive Stat, spans the size of the field generated by the weapon she is currently holding, and reaches this span at a speed of 800.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the potency of the black "ink" collected within her soul is such that she can choose to have it immediately surround the spiritual energy contained within her during the mixing process. This causes it not to simply mix with the energy, but downright feed upon it. As it feeds itself, the amount of "ink" multiplies itself, growing substantially to such a degree that it begins to surround Kimiko's being as a cloak of absolute darkness. Eventually, the "ink" contained is so powerful that it requires liberation, and so it is released from the Vizard's body much like before. However, not all of it is liberated from her, for the amount was so great that much of the energy remained within her soul. This, in turn, forces Saibankan no Fude to balance the energy within around Kimiko, and thus causes the Discord Gauge to immediately be filled to its absolute limit.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its function as a sudden burst of energy, Bakuzen Funka requires quite an amount of spiritual energy from Kimiko's reserves in order to be executed properly. This is accentuated when its secondary function is used while she is acting as the Moon. Additionally, the liberation of energy is so powerful that, in some cases, using it against certain opponents may prove to be downright disadvantageous, seeing as it will push them away from Manzenfude's field and, therefore, Kimiko's reach. Allies can also be harmed by this technique. In so doing, no matter how powerful this technique may be, it remains as a very situational maneuver that is generally preferable to only be used in times of need, such as when faced against a great number of opponents or when the Discord Gauge needs to be filled immediately for further use.
Technique Name: Bakuzen Funka (漠然噴火, "Obscure Eruption")
Technique Type: Shikai | Burst
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 500, 1000 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
An abrupt liberation in the form of a violent detonation which can be exchanged for 50% of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko takes a deep breath as she collects the spiritual energy contained within her body, letting it build up within her soul at a rapid pace. Once she believes the amount collected to be sufficient, she then begins to mix it with the black "ink" collected by Manzenfude. As the both of them combine, they eventually begin to push against one another, and at the end of their ultimate conflict, they eventually liberate themselves from Kimiko. The release of these energies is so powerful that it is not gradual, but rather instantaneous, which causes it to appear as a literal explosion of dark. This explosion's power is based on Kimiko's Spiritual Offensive Stat, spans the size of the field generated by the weapon she is currently holding, and reaches this span at a speed of 800.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the potency of the black "ink" collected within her soul is such that she can choose to have it immediately surround the spiritual energy contained within her during the mixing process. This causes it not to simply mix with the energy, but downright feed upon it. As it feeds itself, the amount of "ink" multiplies itself, growing substantially to such a degree that it begins to surround Kimiko's being as a cloak of absolute darkness. Eventually, the "ink" contained is so powerful that it requires liberation, and so it is released from the Vizard's body much like before. However, not all of it is liberated from her, for the amount was so great that much of the energy remained within her soul. This, in turn, forces Saibankan no Fude to balance the energy within around Kimiko, and thus causes the Discord Gauge to immediately be filled to its absolute limit.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its function as a sudden burst of energy, Bakuzen Funka requires quite an amount of spiritual energy from Kimiko's reserves in order to be executed properly. This is accentuated when its secondary function is used while she is acting as the Moon. Additionally, the liberation of energy is so powerful that, in some cases, using it against certain opponents may prove to be downright disadvantageous, seeing as it will push them away from Manzenfude's field and, therefore, Kimiko's reach. Allies can also be harmed by this technique. In so doing, no matter how powerful this technique may be, it remains as a very situational maneuver that is generally preferable to only be used in times of need, such as when faced against a great number of opponents or when the Discord Gauge needs to be filled immediately for further use.
{Saibankan no Fude: Yamanote, Judge of All That is Light and Dark}
{Nagare (流れ, "Flow")}
Technique Name: Nagare (流れ, "Flow")
Technique Type: Bankai | Shape Shift
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 250
Technique Description and Effects
The complete purification or corruption of the "ink" in order to become one with the light or the dark, and thus gain further luminous or tenebrous power in exchange for 50% of Saibankan no Fude's Harmony Gauge. Kimiko uses the spiritual energy contained within her body to increase the revolving of either the white or the black "ink" emanated by her surroundings around herself, at the expanse of the other. By accomplishing this, the ultimate balance of the two elements around herself is broken, and so Kimiko's primordial form as the Hand of Yama eventually evaporates in a cloud of "ink", for it is a representation of the two and not only one. However, due to her universal role as an avatar of equilibrium, the Vizard retains control of the "ink" within her and so forcefully stabilizes its flow within her body until it no longer finds itself in a state of evaporation.
Once this stabilization is completed, she reforms the "ink" around her being until she is manifested as either the Sun or the Moon. This manifestation persists until Kimiko reinstates the balance of the "ink" within herself at will. For as long as she remains as either of those manifestations, Kimiko gains access to more powerful versions of the techniques associated with Zanzaifude or Manzenfude respectively. These techniques are to be executed with the aid of the Discord Gauge, which both replaces the Light Gauge or the Dark Gauge, and retains its growth for as long as the Hand of Yama wields Saibankan no Fude.
If necessary, what remains of the Harmony Gauge can be directly granted to the Discord Gauge during Nagare to allow for the immediate execution of certain techniques.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
To become a symbol of light or dark is to subsequently become fundamentally unable to behave as an avatar of equilibrium, for those elements are designed to deny one another. In so doing, until she returns to her primordial form, Kimiko completely loses access to her Harmony Gauge. This prevents her from both executing her Bankai techniques and contributing to the gauge's growth, thus forcing her to forever remain vigilant of its contents. Moreover, though the techniques used with the Discord Gauge are indeed more powerful, they are also more taxing and thus more exhausting to execute, which can become a dangerous hazard in more intense battles.
Technique Name: Nagare (流れ, "Flow")
Technique Type: Bankai | Shape Shift
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 250
Technique Description and Effects
The complete purification or corruption of the "ink" in order to become one with the light or the dark, and thus gain further luminous or tenebrous power in exchange for 50% of Saibankan no Fude's Harmony Gauge. Kimiko uses the spiritual energy contained within her body to increase the revolving of either the white or the black "ink" emanated by her surroundings around herself, at the expanse of the other. By accomplishing this, the ultimate balance of the two elements around herself is broken, and so Kimiko's primordial form as the Hand of Yama eventually evaporates in a cloud of "ink", for it is a representation of the two and not only one. However, due to her universal role as an avatar of equilibrium, the Vizard retains control of the "ink" within her and so forcefully stabilizes its flow within her body until it no longer finds itself in a state of evaporation.
Once this stabilization is completed, she reforms the "ink" around her being until she is manifested as either the Sun or the Moon. This manifestation persists until Kimiko reinstates the balance of the "ink" within herself at will. For as long as she remains as either of those manifestations, Kimiko gains access to more powerful versions of the techniques associated with Zanzaifude or Manzenfude respectively. These techniques are to be executed with the aid of the Discord Gauge, which both replaces the Light Gauge or the Dark Gauge, and retains its growth for as long as the Hand of Yama wields Saibankan no Fude.
If necessary, what remains of the Harmony Gauge can be directly granted to the Discord Gauge during Nagare to allow for the immediate execution of certain techniques.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
To become a symbol of light or dark is to subsequently become fundamentally unable to behave as an avatar of equilibrium, for those elements are designed to deny one another. In so doing, until she returns to her primordial form, Kimiko completely loses access to her Harmony Gauge. This prevents her from both executing her Bankai techniques and contributing to the gauge's growth, thus forcing her to forever remain vigilant of its contents. Moreover, though the techniques used with the Discord Gauge are indeed more powerful, they are also more taxing and thus more exhausting to execute, which can become a dangerous hazard in more intense battles.
{Saiban (裁判, "Trial")}
Technique Name: Saiban (裁判, "Trial")
Technique Type: Bankai | Reiatsu Siphon
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 800, 1000 (No Gap)
Technique Description and Effects
Technique Name: Saiban (裁判, "Trial")
Technique Type: Bankai | Reiatsu Siphon
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 800, 1000 (No Gap)
Technique Description and Effects
The bolstering of spiritual energy reserves through the forceful balancing of hostile vitality around one's self in exchange for 100% of Saibankan no Fude's Harmony Gauge. Kimiko unsheathes her sword rather plainly before dashing onward towards a target, then stabbing them with the tip of her enhanced weapon, preferably in the stomach. Should the stabbing have been successful, she then begins to fuel her blade with her spiritual energy in an attempt to connect both she and the target to one another. Due to the blade's nature as an instrument of balance, this maneuver causes it to begin treating the target similarly to Kimiko's surroundings, and so it sets out to balance something from the target around and eventually within the Hand of Yama. In this case, considering that one's soul is both a personification of life and death, this something is the target's reiatsu. The amount of reiatsu taken from the target is dependent on the gap between their and Kimiko's class, as noted below:
What is taken from the target is retrieved in the form of black and white "ink" similar to what is retrieved from Kimiko's surroundings. It first revolves around the woman, joining what is slowly becoming a void of washi beige, before then becoming absorbed by her being. Unlike what is contained within her surroundings, however, the target's reiatsu is returned not to them once Kimiko finishes acting as the Hand of Yama, but rather the earth. As such, this process leaves them frailer, weakened.
In certain cases, this weakening is such that the target's soul is completely emptied of its reiatsu during the rebalancing process. Should this occur, the soul itself and the physical body which surrounds it both collapse completely and are turned into "ink" for Kimiko to balance around herself and eventually flow throughout her body, granting her a 10% buff to Speed and Spiritual Pressure until the end of the thread. After the battle is over, the rebalanced reiatsu - or rather, the target's soul - is liberated and sent to the Cycle.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
The direct siphoning of one's spiritual energy, be they man or beast, is no easy task. Even the Hand of Yama must consider this as she contemplates executing this technique, for the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to be capable of doing so are substantial:
With the requirements aside, the use of Saiban may also prove to be rather ineffective depending on the target chosen. This is especially apparent when it is executed on a target who possesses a low Spiritual Pressure stat, causing the energy gained from its siphoning to be unfortunately too low due to the amount of spiritual energy Kimiko must spend from her own reserve in order to execute the technique.
- 7-8 Gap: 100%
- 5-6 Gap: 75%
- 3-4 Gap: 40%
- 1-2 Gap: 20%
- No Gap (if more reiatsu is used): 10%
- No Gap: 0%
What is taken from the target is retrieved in the form of black and white "ink" similar to what is retrieved from Kimiko's surroundings. It first revolves around the woman, joining what is slowly becoming a void of washi beige, before then becoming absorbed by her being. Unlike what is contained within her surroundings, however, the target's reiatsu is returned not to them once Kimiko finishes acting as the Hand of Yama, but rather the earth. As such, this process leaves them frailer, weakened.
In certain cases, this weakening is such that the target's soul is completely emptied of its reiatsu during the rebalancing process. Should this occur, the soul itself and the physical body which surrounds it both collapse completely and are turned into "ink" for Kimiko to balance around herself and eventually flow throughout her body, granting her a 10% buff to Speed and Spiritual Pressure until the end of the thread. After the battle is over, the rebalanced reiatsu - or rather, the target's soul - is liberated and sent to the Cycle.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
The direct siphoning of one's spiritual energy, be they man or beast, is no easy task. Even the Hand of Yama must consider this as she contemplates executing this technique, for the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to be capable of doing so are substantial:
- Kimiko must have completely filled her being with the greatest amount of black and white "ink" she can possibly gain from her surroundings, then decide to remove it all from herself completely. Such a thing requires patience, something which may be sorely difficult to obtain should Kimiko find herself in a situation in which she is required to even consider using this technique.
- The target's soul must possess a sufficient amount of power for the 10% Speed and Spiritual Pressure buff to be applied to Kimiko. In other words, the target must either be a named NPC with notable importance or a PC. They cannot be a nameless entity or a simple mook. Additionally, this buff cannot be stacked.
- The attack must not be missed. There are numerous ways for it to not reach its intended target, be it because of the target moving out of its way or quite simply blocking it with armor. Regardless, any of these defensive tactics will render the technique useless if they prove to be successful against it.
With the requirements aside, the use of Saiban may also prove to be rather ineffective depending on the target chosen. This is especially apparent when it is executed on a target who possesses a low Spiritual Pressure stat, causing the energy gained from its siphoning to be unfortunately too low due to the amount of spiritual energy Kimiko must spend from her own reserve in order to execute the technique.
